Healthy Holidays Blog Series Week 5: How to Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Meal without a Turkey Food Coma

https://youtu.be/VYpj4dQkxLEWelcome to week 5 of our Healthy Holidays Blog series where we are helping you stay on track with your health while still enjoying your favorite holiday treats this holiday season!In week 4 we discussed tips to prevent stress eating and drinking despite those holiday stressors.Happy Thanksgiving Week! As we all look forward to time off work/school, the Macy’s Day parade, a day of football and of course a delicious Thanksgiving meal, many of us also have the concern of how we are going to come back from that seemingly inevitable food coma. This week we have tips for you to think ahead so you can enjoy your Thanksgiving without feeling sick and remembering that you don’t have to feel guilty over a fun meal with friends and family!

1. Plan ahead!  Plan ahead with balanced meals and snacks prior to your meal so you aren’t starving going into your thanksgiving meal and can actually enjoy tasting your favorite thanksgiving foods. Plan to take a break between your meal and dessert so you can have your pie as a snack and continue to fit things into a balanced day while enjoying all your thanksgiving favorites!
2. Portion sizes! As we have discussed before, when there are many different foods you want to have throughout the meal have smaller servings of everything and balance your food groups!
3. Sign up for a turkey trot! Sign up for a thanksgiving race or plan a family hike or football game to work in some physical activity to help you feel energized and healthful!
4. Eat Slowly! Don’t let mindful eating go out the window. Take at least 20 minutes to eat and enjoy your meal and determine if you are full prior to racing back for a tasty plate of seconds!

Are there any tricks you use to prevent that thanksgiving food coma? I would love to hear your own tricks!Check back next week for our week 6 topic: Thanksgiving leftovers-convert your leftovers into healthy meal prep!If you are looking for extra help with your nutrition and health this holiday season CONTACT US today and SCHEDULE your first appointment toward taking control of your health!Wishing you a happy, healthy Thanksgiving week!-Ricci-Lee Hotz, MS, RDNDenver’s Dancing DietitianA Taste of Health, LLC“Improving Quality of life one bite at a time”