I’m not here to tell you that you should be restricting yourself on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday where we come together with family and/or friends to give thanks for all that we have. It’s not a time where we need to feel guilty or restrict ourselves – this only fosters a negative relationship with food. Being mindful and having some good self awareness will help stave off extra unwanted pounds this holiday. Here are my five tips for being mindful and thriving on Thanksgiving! 

No.1

Pre-holiday Mindfulness. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving this week, nourishing your body with extra green goodness with each meal will help deter excess weight gain before turkey day. Being mindful of the large meal on Thursday and adjusting your meals wisely beforehand can truly make a difference. Don’t forget to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

FRESH MEAL IDEAS LEADING UP TO TURKEY DAY: 
Broccoli Tricolored Quinoa Burgers
Nutty Pumpkin Banana Smoothie
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Balsamic Tahini Glaze
Lentil Carrot & Raisin Salad
Kale salad with spiralized apples & walnuts
The Best Lunch Bowl
Pre-Holiday Greens Soup
Spicy Herbed Wild Salmon

No. 2

Savor It. On the day of, it can be chaotic with rounds and rounds of food – appetizers, more appetizers, dinner and dessert. Slow down, and take awareness of each bite. Use all of your senses to taste, smell, and get a sense of the texture of the food. This will likely prevent overeating. Savoring your favorite vegetables first helps decrease your overall calorie intake and boosts fiber (helping you become fuller on less calories). If you have favorites you’ve been dying for all year, go for those first over others while being mindful of the portion. If you know you want to taste 4 pie flavors, try taking a small piece of each that would add up to one slice. Putting down your fork in between bites also allows for more mindfulness as you taste all of the subtle flavors in each dish. Savor each bite!

No 3.

Focus on Family. Focusing on the real reason we are gathering together – to appreciate and be thankful for family and friends – takes the focus off of the food. Slow down while you’re eating to engage in meaningful conversation (besides politics, haha) with loved ones and you’ll naturally eat less. This goes hand in hand with putting your fork down – because you talk with your hands, duh.

No 4.

You CAN Say No. You don’t have to say no but you CAN say no! How many times has someone offered a large helping and you didn’t say no because you didn’t want to be rude? It’s easy to control your intake when you’re the one making your plate. If someone offers you a dish they made that you aren’t dying for, take a small taste and move on. Be mindful of what you want to savor.

No 5.

Listen to Your Body. This one is pretty self explanatory. Listening to your body is crucial every day, but even more important on Thanksgiving. Be aware of yourself and listen to your satiety cues to stave off the unwanted pounds. Give yourself time to digest before diving right into dessert.

Following these tips on Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season can help naturally keep pounds off while still enjoying yourself, and without feeling deprived. Everyone is different, and there is no one single definition of a healthy diet. ‘Healthy’ doesn’t just have to do with the food you eat, but the relationship you create with your food.

If you’re in a pinch and want some Thanksgiving side dish recipe ideas, I’ve gathered a few from the web that I love!:
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Cranberry Reduction
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Butternut Squash Autumn Salad
Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Feta
Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots

Have any other questions about your own individual health or condition? I’d love to talk one on one – available from anywhere with virtual counseling. Contact me at freshplatesnutrition@gmail.com for more details! Comment below if you have any other mindfulness tips that work for you – let’s get the conversation going!

Have a Happy Turkey Day!