Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, the traditional holiday for gathering with friends and family to celebrate our connections to one another, express gratitude for our many blessings, and to overeat.
We associate Thanksgiving with food in a way that we do not with other holidays, and for people who are trying to watch their weight the day can present all sorts of dilemmas about which foods are “allowed” and which are not. The entire day can become filled with anxiety and guilt that leave one feeling anything but celebratory.
For those who want to keep their holiday eating healthy and balanced, physician and nutrition expert Dr. John LaPuma offers a few easy to follow tips to help make the day more enjoyable.
First, Dr. LaPuma suggests starting or ending the meal with a walk, outside – no matter the weather. “I think we’ve lost that tradition in our country, and it’s an important one; to hang out with friends and family, anticipate the meal, enjoy it, and then, in a way, recap it with a walk,” he says. “You can even walk before you eat – and/or after – but it’s an important part of the day.”
Second, it is important that you allow yourself to really enjoy the food. States Dr. LaPuma, “Food is so much more difficult to enjoy if you have a huge amount of guilt about it – like, ‘I’m eating this and I really shouldn’t’ or, ‘I wonder how many calories this is.’ If you have decided to sit down and enjoy it, then really embrace it – and don’t worry so much.”
The third – and perhaps most important– tip, according to Dr. LaPuma, is to use the right sized plates. “If you have a choice, if you are the hostess or host and you are setting the table for people, try using slightly smaller plates; six-inch plates / seven-inch plates with rims,” he suggests. “Serve the food on individual plates in a beautiful way; if you’re not serving individual plates, then put serving dishes on the table in a beautiful way. It helps people capture the delight of eating and feasting together, and with that delight and beauty, you feed both their eyes and their stomachs.”
So if you are worried about holiday overeating, try these suggestions and see if they can help you to enjoy your holiday celebrations.
The above information appears courtesy of Dr. John LaPuma and Dr.Ruth Buczynski, President of the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine.
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