Relax About Thanksgiving Calories — It’s A Day To Indulge

Thanksgiving is coming up tomorrow, and with it, the true beginning of “the eating season.”  Those of us who are trying to eat healthier equate that with eating less food.  Fortunately for us, justification is readily available for over-consumption on Thanksgiving Day.

Almost without fail, weight loss advice will include the provision for taking a day to eat whatever you want.  Sometimes its called a “free day,” or a “reward day.”  Whatever you want to call it, if there’s a single day out of the year you should break out the loose pants and let the belt out a notch, that day is tomorrow.  It’s a day to spend with families, and if you’re like many Americans, that generally means at least one, if not two, large meals.  So, relax.

Having said all that, most of you will still obsess about the matter, even though you know you’re obsessing.  If you still find yourself worrying about calories on turkey day, keep these ideas in your mind when filling your plate.

1. Shy away from sugared drinks like soda.  Instead, pick unsweetened, or lightly sweetened, tea.
2. We all love dressing (myself included), but know it has little redeeming nutritional value.
3. Recall that a serving size of meat is 3-ounces.  That’s about the size of a deck of cards.  White meat has a lower fat content than dark meat.
4. Make sure the majority of what’s on your plate is green.  The greener, the better.  You can safely eat about as much of the green stuff as you can stomach without getting too bent out of shape about calories.
5. Just make one trip to the dessert table.

Now, relax.  You won’t eat yourself into the grave by indulging for a single day.  Go have fun with family and friends. Be grateful for what you have, and give thanks for your blessings.