Tips for a healthier holiday.

We all know this time of year is tough when you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Here are my top 5 tips to keeping the weight gain under control during this time of year.

1.) Get moving – It’s super easy to stuff yourself full of food and sit down to watch tv or take a nap.  Challenge yourself to do something active!  My Dad and I run our own version of the “Turkey Trot” every year.  We run from my Grandmother’s house to my parent’s house after we eat lunch.  It’s a little over a five mile run.  Then we drive back for football and more family fun!

2.) Eat a healthy breakfast – If you start your day off with a good healthy breakfast then you will be less inclined to binge eat once your sitting in front of those mashed potatoes and creamed corn.  An egg white omelet, bowl of oatmeal or fruit and yogurt will help you curb those cravings later in the day.

3.) Drink Water –  Alcoholic beverages, fruit drinks and sodas are high in calories and sugars.  Water eliminates those empty calories and keeps you hydrated.

4.) Keep it light – Are you doing the cooking?  Opt for choices with lower calories and fats.  Choose fat-free chicken broth, plain yogurt or fat free sour cream.  You can cut fats, sugars and calories in a lot of the ingredients.

5.) Portion Control – Before you fill your plate, do a survey of all of the dishes.  Give yourself only small portions of those foods you just CANNOT turn down.  Foods like turkey, roasted veggies, and baked sweet potatoes are great choices to put on your plate.  Keep the casseroles and other fatty sides small.

Thanksgiving is not just about this amazing bounty of food.  Keep things into perspective.  The most important thing to remember is to focus on being thankful for your friends, family and relationships with the people that you love.  THAT is what Thanksgiving is about.