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Kerry McClure – Practical Wellness

November 17, 2014 ·

6 Tips For A Fit, Healthy, Happy, Feel-Good Thanksgiving
Here are a few tips to inspire a few new traditions that keep you feeling good, fit, healthy, and happy.

Before Thanksgiving, visit the farmers market for the freshest seasonal foods. Put a bowl of seasonal persimmons, Asian pears, and apples on the counter for healthy snacks.

Eat Breakfast. Starting your day with a proper meal can give you more control over your appetite later in the day. Thanksgiving day is no exception.

Get Active. Make fitness a family plan today. Take an early day walk or hike together, and another one after dinner. Some fitness studios, gyms, and yoga studios have modified schedules for you to get your workout in before the festivities begin.

Lighten up your traditional fare. Instead of sugar use fresh fruit like dates in desserts and fruit purees like applesauce, pumpkin, and banana instead of oils in baked goods. Reduce oil where you can and substitute butter with ghee, which contains no lactose. Revamp dips and mashes that would typically use cream. Try plain yogurt in those creamy dips, mashed potatoes, and casseroles instead. Roast vegetables like beets, carrots, and parsnips with rosemary or other fresh herbs, and sprinkle cinnamon and ghee over roasted butternut squash.

When filling your plate, choose the best bets on the buffet. Make 75% of your plate plant based. Pick lean white meat, roasted veggies, and salads. Even pumpkin pie tends to be less calorie-dense than many other desserts (it’s still full of sugar though, so keep it to one slice).

Watch your portions (plate and cup). Fill your plate just once, and that doesn’t mean heap it over. Eliminate the unconscious second plate by keeping all the serving plates off the table and in the kitchen or an alternate room from where you are dining.
Do the same with bottles of wine. A glass can easily get topped off multiple times without you even realizing how much has gone down. Each glass of red wine has up to 150 calories. Those calories stack up quick. Opt for a mug of hot peppermint tea while socializing before and after dinner. Peppermint gives you pep but it’s also soothing to your stomach.

Source of inspiration: http://www.livebeaming.com/2013/11/4093/