Steve Rosenbaum, an internal medicine doctor at Baylor Clinic in Houston, offers advice on how to partake in the Thanksgiving feast without over doing it:
• Take inventory and watch portion sizes.
As the food is passed around or set out, Rosenbaum suggested taking inventory in your brain and your stomach to avoid the over-eating binge. Ask yourself: “How hungry am I?” “How do I feel”?
“With your first serving, take an adequate amount,” he said. “Do not overload.”
Psychologically, Rosenbaum said, we may be inclined to eat everything we see on our plate so be cautious of how much you put on there.
• Don’t give into family pressure.
“If you load your plate, you may feel obligated to eat it all to please mom, dad or a spouse,” he said. “If a family member wants you to try a certain item, serve a small portion. Do not feel like you have to eat a lot to make him or her happy.”
• Wait before refilling plate.
Before going back for seconds, allow yourself at least 10 to 15 minutes to decide if you really want or need more food.
“Sit and enjoy the company, engage in conversation or have a cup of coffee,” said Rosenbaum. “Repeat inventory.”
• Watch liquid calories.
Wine, punch and eggnog all have lots of calories.
“Sip slower,” he said. “You may avoid the third or fourth glass with extra time.”
• Watching what you eat pays off.
“If we serve ourselves less, we can really enjoy the holiday season and avoid the weight gain,” he said. “You will be so much more proud of yourself and have a sense of accomplishment.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers “Healthy Holiday” tips and recipes.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
zettapixel (anonymous) says…
Enjoy Thanksgiving... eat what you want... and just make it a point to "eat right" and exercise 45 minutes to an hour every day for a week, and you'll be back to your normal weight!
Hills_KU2007 (anonymous) says…
Don't ask yourself how hungry you are. Ask yourself: "How good does this food look?" If the answer is "great", then pig out and feel bad about your decision later! And then follow the exercise routine that "zettapixel" states above.
rando1965 (anonymous) says…
get real rosenbaum it's thanksgiving.i'm not having any quack tell me how much to eat on thanksgiving.......eat up.
WHY (anonymous) says…
If you are a lazy fat pig 364 other days a year, this day won't make that big of a difference. If you are not a lazy fat pig then it will all average out. But if you are a lazy fat pig with low self esteem then eat one less piece of pie and feel good about the accomplishment.
Pywacket (anonymous) says…
Try that under-appreciated exercise of pushing your chair away from the table!
Seriously, though... it's a feast day. Nothing wrong with indulging a little without too much guilt. Also, the weather is supposed to be pretty nice the next few days. We'll probably put the dogs on their leashes and take a walk after dinner--and another one Friday and Saturday and...
yoornotmee (anonymous) says…
I'll be taking small portions, savoring what I'm eating, chewing slowly, and drinking water (I usually drink water anyway though, so no change there). I'm losing my baby weight by simple lifestyle changes, starting with smaller portions and next replacing some unhealthy food choices with healthier ones. I'm continuing to do this over the holidays, but it won't stop me from enjoying the feast! I don't need to overindulge just because it's Thanksgiving.