Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday we look forward to all year long: lots of food, family, and fun! If you aren’t careful, it can also be a day you end up miserable because you feel as stuffed as the turkey you just ate. Instead of pushing yourself to the point of discomfort this year, why don’t you practice a little self-care? Here are our tips for enjoying a satisfying and delicious Thanksgiving - without having to loosen up your belt buckle!

Pay Attention To How You Feel

Getting the family together is a part of the holidays for so many, and as enjoyable as that can be, keeping your Great Aunt Ida and Uncle Barry from arguing about politics or what happened at Christmas in 1978 can cause some stress. Family get-togethers can often lead to mindless comments, as well as mindless eating.

Remember to check in with yourself despite the constant chatter and think about how you feel. Are you actually hungry, or are you just piling on potatoes to pass the time? About halfway through your meal, stop and think about how you’re feeling. This can help you to avoid going totally overboard with the tempting Thanksgiving spread.

Keep A Colorful Plate

One of the main reasons behind Thanksgiving is to give thanks and celebrate all that the season has given us. So, in order to properly celebrate, your plate should be full of colorful fruits and vegetables. Carrots, beets, pomegranate, and squash are all in season, so make a goal of filling at least half your plate with fruit and veggies. Don’t forget your favorite protein, whether it’s turkey or tofurky!

Fill Your Plate With Food You Love

Just because your mom whipped up 300 pounds of mashed potatoes (with a 2:1 ratio of butter and cream) doesn’t mean you have to eat them. Instead of piling your plate up with fillers, go for the foods you really want. Eating something just because it’s there is what will make you miserable later. If you really don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, just have a tablespoon and say you’ve had your fill.

Pack On The Protein

Thanksgiving dinner means there is plenty of lean protein options to go around. Fill up on your protein of choice before you hit the starches and carbohydrates in the buffet line. A good tip to remember is that your serving size for protein should be about the size of your fist.

Uh Oh….I Ate Too Much!

So, despite your best efforts to hold back this year, you just had to have a fourth serving of your favorite pumpkin pie. So, what should you do? Just deal with feeling bloated and forgive yourself. Over-indulging a few times a year isn’t a crime, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Take an after dinner walk, drink lots of water, and get plenty of rest. Plus, if you’ve been receiving regular chiropractic care, your body is performing optimally so you will be feeling back to new in no time!

From all of us here at Williamsburg Chiropractic, we wish you a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!