Leave the stuffing to the Turkey.

Thanksgiving is a skipped-over holiday. Walk into any major retail store on November 1st and you will be bombarded by giant plastic reindeer, garlands of fresh pine, and twinkling lights.  Although on a rare occasion you may find a lonely turkey or pilgrim tucked away in the corner, for the most part the holiday is overlooked by the majority, but not I. From the moment I put away the candy on Halloween night I begin to have dreams of overflowing gravy cascading onto mountains of mashed potatoes and cornbread.  The entire atmosphere- the smells, sounds, and tastes- makes me feel at peace no matter where I happen to be.  Although the menu and company may change from year to year, one thing always remains the same- despite my best laid plans to maintain control, my ravenous appetite goes awry and I end up on the couch battling the same uncomfortable fullness I’m sure most people experience on Thanksgiving Day.  This year, however, will be much different. I met with my fellow AmeriCorps member Anna Ulyanenkova, who is currently serving at the Florida Department of Health in Clay County as a Health Educator and Healthiest Weight Coach. She was able to provide me with useful tips and tricks to ensure this Thanksgiving will be a much healthier one.

While it may appear to be a good idea to skip breakfast in an attempt to save your appetite, it actually has the opposite effect, making you more likely to overeat. Make sure to have a small breakfast on Thanksgiving morning in order to avoid overindulgence later on in the day.  When the dinner bells finally ring and it’s time to dig in, grab a smaller plate to help limit your portion sizes. If you’re a carb-lover like me, try to resist the temptation to dive in to the bread basket as quickly as possible and survey all your options first. Staples like bread and butter are common all year round, try something new or load-up on salads and other vegetables instead. Be wary of foods, such as green bean casserole, that appear to be healthy, but actually contain high amounts of calories.

When it comes to drinks, water is crucial. You don’t want to drink your calories, especially when there is so much delicious food available to you. Oftentimes, we mistake the signal from our brain for hunger when in actuality we are thirsty. Drinking water before and during a meal will make you feel full, help you eat less, and even aid in digestion.  Above all, the most important tip to remember is to eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed!

In place of going directly from the dinner table to the couch to sprawl out and take a nap, go for a walk or engage your family and friends in a game of football- or whatever other sport you might enjoy. The turkey-induced urge to sleep is hard to resist, but continuing to stay active will promote healthy digestion and keep your metabolism working to its best capacity.

As a result of my conversation with Anna, I feel much more adequately prepared to tackle my Thanksgiving feast in a healthy way while not feeling deprived of all the wonderful foods I love. Anna was also kind enough to share five healthy fall food recipes with me. Give them a try at your next feast; perhaps you will discover a new family favorite!

Check out: http://blog.centerformedicalweightloss.com/blog/2015/08/31/healthy-fall-...

This blog post was written by NHC Florida member Laura Ferrara.

Laura serves at River Region Human Services as a Case Manager.