POP! POP! POP! That was the sound of buttons popping off of pants last Thanksgiving, but this year it doesn’t have to happen to you. You can do Thanksgiving with a healthy twist.
Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays in America. It’s built upon family, friends and let’s not forget food. On average, a Thanksgiving dinner contains about 3,000 to 5,000 calories, which means you’re gaining about 1 to 1.5 pounds in one day. Although the holiday is focused around food, it’s important to not overindulge.
Making changes to your Thanksgiving dinner does not have to be drastic, in fact, substituting a few ingredients is all it takes to reduce the calorie count. Not quite sure how to do that? PartnerMD has you covered with a few healthy swaps.Below are five healthy swaps that will allow you to enjoy your holiday dinner and stay healthy at the same time.
Healthy Swaps
- Instead of using a bread-based stuffing to stuff your turkey, try using citrus fruits such as oranges or lemons.
- Rinse off your ham before cooking to help remove the extra salt.
- Have a side of dark leafy vegetables like collard greens, cabbage or kale instead of a creamy dish.
- Substitute buttermilk with low-fat skim milk when making mashed potatoes.
- While desserts are the closing act of a Thanksgiving dinner, try swapping the chocolate or pecan pies for apple crisps or pumpkin pie dip.
While these healthy swaps will help you, it is important to eat the appropriate portion sizes and to know when to say “no”.
Ways to Say "No" Politely
Eating healthy on Thanksgiving is a challenge, especially, when there is so much food being thrown at you. So, how do you say “no” politely when offered something to eat? A few examples are:
- “I will try it in a little while.”
- “I already tried some and it was great.”
- “Thank you so much, but I am trying to watch how much I eat today. I don’t want to be painfully stuffed!”
- “I’m sorry, I just never liked….”
The overall objective is to not offend someone, but to respectfully and politely say “no”.
Although you are monitoring what you eat, it is important to still have fun and enjoy yourself. Focus more on spending time with your friends and family during this special holiday and less about the food.
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