Tips for a Healthy Thanksgiving

Posted by in Episodes, Fit Life

Thanksgiving is an eating day. There is nothing you can do to change that. However, there are things you can do to make Thanksgiving healthier either by modifying some recipes, finding a fitness event or anticipating the feast. Here are the how-to’s for a healthy Thanksgiving!

1 – Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

You can go crazy and have a tofu turkey but that won’t cut it with me. I want the real deal, I just want it lighter!
In my house, we:

  • use chicken broth and a bit of garlic to make the mashed potatoes instead of milk, butter, sour cream.

Lighter Mashed Potatoes:

    • Cook the potatoes in chicken broth.
    • Then add garlic and maybe more broth when mashing. Delicious!

This year, I’m going to try a couple of recipes from Clean Eating magazine and I’m very excited! I’ll let you know how they turn out! Also don’t forget that depending on how traditional you want to be, you can branch out and make a different delicious, healthy meal or sides to go with that turkey.

Other healthy Thanksgiving dinner recipes:

 

2 – Get Moving

There are several events happening over the long weekend, some even on Thanksgiving day! I love the idea of a morning turkey trot with the family!

Here’s a list of just the Turkey Trots on Active.com – you can refine the search and see what’s going on in your city. Also remember to keep your ears open because many events aren’t listed here or named the same. This is a great way to get moving, spend time with the family and most events support a charity.

 

3 – Proactive and then Reactive

You know that you are going to eat too much over the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s going to happen so you can plan ahead by eating lighter the week before, adding 5 extra minutes to your fitness sessions and then doing the same for the week after. (Keep this regimen up through the holidays if you have lots of food and parties surrounding you.) It’s much easier to take control of your food and fitness during the normal days so you can relax and enjoy the holidays and events.

These are just a few tips on how to have a healthier Thanksgiving. Most of them, I do personally to keep myself and my family healthier through the holidays. I hope you find them helpful, try some of the amazing recipe links and enjoy the upcoming holidays. One last note: The one thing I do on Thanksgiving day is simply only eat 1 plate of food with dinner (+ pie!). I don’t overstuff myself because I ate being miserably full. When I’m hungry a few hours later, I enjoy the leftovers. We even get a really nice loaf of bread for sandwiches and that’s when the cranberry dressing really gets used as a spread! There’s no reason to overeat at the actual meal because the leftovers are so delicious. If you are going somewhere or people are only staying for dinner, get the disposable tupperware dishes and either dish up leftovers for people or ask for leftovers – the host will think it’s a great idea!  Happy Thanksgiving!  ~amy

Remember, you can always sign up for our  and work out less than an hour a week!

 

Find all your health and fitness tips at WithAmyMac.com

 

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