Thanksgiving is right around the corner and now is the perfect time to reflect on the good things in our lives. I want you all to know that I count my patients and readers among my many blessings, and I’m grateful for your support over the years.
Our wish for you this Thanksgiving season is that you find yourself surrounded with family, friends, happiness, and good health. Along those lines, I want to share a few healthy Thanksgiving tips with you in addition to two delicious recipes.
Healthy Thanksgiving Tips
- Eat a small, protein-rich meal a couple of hours before the big meal. This will help take the edge off hunger and improve your odds of making healthy Thanksgiving dinner choices.
- Exercise first thing in the morning (before breakfast). This forces your body to burn stored fat for energy, rather than carbohydrates, which are readily available after eating. On a feast day like Thanksgiving, we can all use a little extra fat burning.
- Swap out carbohydrate-laden potatoes and traditional stuffing with quinoa. Quinoa is a seed rich in protein, fiber, magnesium and potassium, quinoa has a relatively low glycemic index, making it an excellent alternative to starchy foods that drive up blood sugar. It’s also gluten free.
- Load up your plate with vegetables, leafy greens, and turkey.
- Instead of denying yourself certain foods, just be mindful of portions. Decreasing portion sizes or having a bite or two of your favorite indulgences will satisfy the cravings without expanding your waistline and result in a healthy Thanksgiving day feast.
- Take a 10-20 minute walk after eating. Exercise helps move glucose out of the blood and into the cells and reduces the “food coma” often experienced after a big meal. Make it a family affair by enlisting others to walk with you.
Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes
A list of Thanksgiving health tips wouldn’t be complete without a few healthy Thanksgiving recipes.
Get our Healthy Holiday Recipe Book (free)
Included are seven recipes you can feel good about making—and eating—this holiday and throughout the fall and winter.
- Cauliflower “Mashed Potatoes”
- Squash & Celeriac Quinoa Stuffing
- Quinoa Salad with Pistachios and Cranberries
- Cauliflower, Parsnip & Roasted Garlic Mash
- Almond Flour Pie Crust
- Pumpkin Pie Filling
- Apple Pie Filling
