10 Stay-Thin Thanksgiving Tips

During Thanksgiving dinner the average American consumes a whopping 2,000 to 3,000 calories. In order to burn those calories, you would have to walk 20 to 30 miles. Rather than regret your meal, here’s are some practical strategies to help keep calories within reason.

Begin The Day With Breakfast

You might be tempted to save all your calories for dinner, but skipping breakfast will sabotage your Thanksgiving resolve. By eating a healthy breakfast prior to sitting down at the Thanksgiving table, you won’t be too hungry and you’ll be less likely to overeat.

Choose Appetizers Carefully Opt for veggies and low-fat dip instead of nuts or cheese and crackers.

Eat Slowly According to a University of Rhode Island study, people who eat slowly consume less calories than their hurried dinner companions.

Use A Smaller Plate Or politely ask your host for one. Folks who choose smaller plates eat less without even noticing it. One study showed the difference can be as substantial as 50% fewer calories consumed.

Go Light On The Meat Choose white meat over dark meat and no matter how tempting the turkey skin might be, trim it off.

Beware Of Fatty Side Dishes Sure, that stuffing and those sweet potato dishes are tempting, but they’re also packed with calories. If you can’t resist, allow yourself a couple of spoonfuls each and then fill up on veggies – as long as they’re not swimming in cream or cheese. Also, pile on the salad and choose oil and vinegar dressing. What's more, pass up the bread. Refined carbohydrates like dinner rolls offer little satisfaction, loads of calories and dangerous insulin spikes.

Watch The Booze Wine is fine in moderation, but it’s helpful to dilute it with sparkling water. Allowing for two glasses diluted with water, you can save up to 200 calories.

Be Dessert-Savvy Choose pumpkin pie instead of pecan, or sherbet or fruit salad rather than ice cream if those choices are available.

Walk It Off Even if you’ve picked the right things at the meal, take a walk afterward. The fresh air will perk you up, and just ten minutes is fine for today. But adding ten minutes to your daily walk or fitness routine throughout the holidays is a good way to ward off weight gain all winter.

Make Healthy Leftovers Instead of turkey sandwiches, use the remaining turkey to make a pot of soup with fresh chunky vegetables.