Avoid Overindulging this Holiday with These 3 Healthy Thanksgiving Tips

Avoid Overindulging this Holiday with These 3 Healthy Thanksgiving Tips hover background

Nov 17
2016

The holiday season is just around the corner! For many of us, that means plenty of opportunities to celebrate with family and friends – and of course, lots of delicious food. It can also mean the end of our healthy diets and the start of our “winter bodies”. But just because this time of year tends to be food-centric doesn’t mean that the holidays have to be a time to overindulge. In fact, healthy alternatives to holiday staples can be just as delicious – and they come without the guilt!

 

Here are our three tips for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving:

Trade Out the Green Bean Casserole for Roasted Veggies

For many of us, green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving staple. However, most family recipes tend to be filled with unnecessary fat and sodium, making this one of the least healthy dishes on your Thanksgiving table. For a healthy Thanksgiving alternative, we recommend swapping out this dish for roasted veggies. Some of our favorites are zucchini, carrots, and asparagus. Check out this delicious recipe for roasted vegetables with all the flavor you’re looking for – we’re sure it’ll be a new staple at your healthy Thanksgiving meal!

Try a Low Fat Gravy

We know that Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without gravy, which is why we would never suggest giving it up entirely! But did you know that traditional gravy (which is usually made with butter) can be a hidden culprit of unnecessary calories, fat, and sodium? For a healthy Thanksgiving alternative, we recommend swapping your usual gravy recipe for this one made with apple cider. It sounds crazy, but the results are so delicious! Bonus: it’s only 27 calories per serving!

Use Smaller Plates

We already know that overindulgence is one of the biggest challenges of the holiday season. With so many delicious options available, it’s easy to load our plates with everything and consumer our daily calories all at once. To help you avoid this mistake and have a healthy Thanksgiving, we recommend swapping out your large dinner plates for smaller dishes. A study by Cornell University’s Food & Brand Lab suggests that switching to smaller plates can help you with portion control because your plate will look fuller with less food – so you’re less likely to take that extra slice of pie just because you can. We think this is genius way to control your food intake during the holiday season without giving up the treats you love most!

Are you looking to get into (or stay in) shape this holiday season? Above & Beyond Physical Therapy can help! Contact us to set up a complimentary screening, and start your journey to an active, healthy lifestyle today. We specialize in patients of all ages and activity levels.

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