A Wiser approach to Thanksgiving dinner
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Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!
It was four Thanksgiving's ago when for the first time finished my meal feeling satisfied and comfortable, both mentally and physically. I remember sitting in my chair, surrounded by my family, and was surprised - I genuinely enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner without leaving the table feeling stuffed with a stomach ache!
It took a lot of work to achieve this win, especially on such a food-focused day. I had been working hard for months learning to eat more intuitively and consciously - to get curious, not judgemental about my food choices. I remember feeling anxious to apply the tools I had learned on that Thanksgiving day but the feeling of satisfaction and compassion after dinner outweighed the feeling of regret and discomfort of overeating and I have been applying these tools ever since.
This Thanksgiving I wanted to share some of my favorites with you so you too can approach your Thanksgiving meal(s) consciously and curiously.
Enjoy and be kind to yourself this Thanksgiving holiday!
Thanksgiving Year-Round.
In our house, we roast a whole chicken nearly every other week and it’s just as delicious as the turkey we eat on Thanksgiving day. My point is if you’re craving turkey, stuffing or an apple pie on a random day in March, by all means, eat what you’re craving! We live in a time when we can either cook or buy just about anything at any time - there is no need to restrict ourselves of the foods we enjoy eating simply because they’re categorized as “Thanksgiving-Only Foods.”
Eat breakfast.
On a day that’s focused on eating, it might sound counter-intuitive for a nutritionist to advise you to eat more but this tip is one of the best ways to set yourself up for a food-focused day. Why? Your eyes and stomach size will be more inline if you aren’t ravenous while plating your Thanksgiving dinner and you’ll be less inclined to overeat. This year, start your holiday off right with a fun workout and balanced breakfast!
Take 5.
Somewhere along the way, it seems Thanksgiving became an annual food competition around our own dinner tables. Who can eat the most and finish the fastest? This year, I challenge you to take a 5-minute break towards the middle or end of your meal. Put your fork down, take a breath and have a quick check-in. Am I still hungry? Am I full? Am I craving something else? Depending on what you find, make your next move! And remember, the food will always be there for you to have at a later date if you’re not hungry at the moment.
Forgive yourself and move on.
It’s about 30 minutes after Thanksgiving dinner when the stomach aches and food coma hit, and if you’re like me the regret and negative self-talk start barking as well. Did I really need that third helping of mashed potatoes? Trust me, I’ve been there - it happens! But the best thing you can do is forgive yourself quickly and move on. Overindulging on Thanksgiving could very easily carry over and become a pattern for the next 6 weeks until the New Year but why let it? You have the power to make new, conscious and curious food and lifestyle choices at any time, why wait?