Enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner

Here are Underdue Social Services, lots of emails come around during the holidays with great information. Here is one to share with all of you. It’s a bit of really good advice for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Apr 26, 2011 | By B. Lynn

Ms. Lynn is an educator and freelance writer living in Pennsylvania. She has been writing professionally for three years and is a graduate of the Institute for Children’s Literature. She writes for many niches including education, health, and beauty. You can contact her at b.lynn10@hotmail.com.

Thanksgiving is all about giving gratitude for everything you have and appreciating the people in your life. Families come together to celebrate each other, give thanks and have a big feast together. Traditional Thanksgiving meal favorites are turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, rolls and alcohol. Thanksgiving dinner can easily spoil a diet or just leave you feeling stuffed, bloated and unable to partake in the merriment of the holidays. Thanksgiving also marks the beginning of the holiday season, so overeating on this day can set you on course to gain excess weight throughout the next month or two.

Step 1

Eat a healthy, sensible breakfast and lunch. Many people choose to starve themselves through the day so they can have more room for the scrumptious meal. This will lead to binge eating. Instead, have a small, healthy breakfast and lunch. Drink water throughout the day to keep you from overeating or consuming empty calories from soda or alcohol. This will help you feel more satisfied so you won’t overeat at dinner.

Step 2

Chew your meal slowly. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to sit down, eat your meal slowly and relish every bite. You will feel fuller faster, which will help you avoid overeating. Food is a wonderful part of Thanksgiving, but so is spending time with family and friends. Put down the fork for a few minutes, join the conversation, and you will eat less without noticing it.

Step 3

Use smaller plates. Depending on where you go for Thanksgiving it may be impossible, but if you are the host or your family doesn’t mind, consider grabbing a smaller plate for your meal. You will feel like you are eating more than your actually are and will be less likely to overeat.

Step 4

Create a tiny, portioned smorgasbord. Between all of the delectable food, your great aunt asking if you tried her pie yet, and all of the goodies being passed your way, it is easy to be tempted to eat everything. Instead of having a big meal of turkey and potatoes and then trying everything else on top of it, have a little bit of everything. On most days, you should try to eat more vegetables and fruits than anything else, but on Thanksgiving, make your goal to avoid overeating. Allow yourself a spoonful or two of everything you love, pass over what you don’t. You will end up feeling satisfied and will get to try everything you want without stuffing yourself silly.

Article reviewed by Elizabeth Ahders Last updated on: Apr 26, 2011