Thanksgiving Tips

Hi Everyone.  I'm in charge of making pies for A LOT of people this Thanksgiving so I was anxious to ask my friend Olivia to guest post for me.  She's a sweetheart and Lily adores her.  Take a peek at some of her helpful Thanksgiving Day tips! 

Hey Y’all!!

Katie here has inspired me in so many ways. I envy her passion and dedication to blogging. I thought I would give-it-a-go and write a post for Katie to share about the holiday season. Maybe someday I will start my own blog! Enjoy!

Have you ever felt so uncomfortable that you fear the button on your jeans will pop off if you don’t unbutton them first? Me too! I think this is something we can probably all relate to at one point or another in our lives (am I right, or am I right?). Thanksgiving and the holiday season is just another one of those occasions in many American households.

More than ever we find ourselves concentrating on ‘living healthy.’ But, what is healthy!? Not eating carbs or dairy? Maybe. Not eating processed foods? Maybe. Eating only 2x a day and no more than 1200 calories per day? Well maybe, but who really does that anyway? My point you see is there are many ways to be “healthy.” The various factors driving the ultimate goal of living a healthy lifestyle differ from person to person. My personal belief, especially during the holiday season, (aka the season of dessert temptation), is moderation. That one little word is my gift that keeps on giving all through the holidays.

Why? I’m so glad you asked! It is because it allows me to enjoy every flavor of the holidays. Whether it’s the sweet treats of Thanksgiving dessert or the calorie loaded cheesy potatoes my mother-in-law insists on making every year, I can happily taste each flavor of the season. Here are some quick tips of my own that might help you keep your healthy mentality throughout the holidays without skipping a beat, or a Christmas cookie!

Eat before you eat. How many times have you starved yourself all morning before that late-lunch almost dinner time meal? Or was that just me….? Either way, be sure to eat a plentiful breakfast, nourishing you for the day. Then, when the appetizers are put out, you aren’t diving into the table stuffing your mouth with everything in sight. You can enjoy nibbling on one or two of each of the appetizers, holding you over until the mealtime.

Fill your plate. Yes, I said FILL YOUR PLATE. First, take a little bit more veggies and fruit than you might otherwise, cover at least half of your plate, making sure you leave room for the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy though! This will ensure you don’t take too much of those guilt inducing, ‘leave you feeling groggy the rest of the day’ foods.

This looks great!  Just add more veggies!

-Want Dessert? Have Dessert. Depriving yourself of something is only going to lead to over-indulging later on. The longer you say “no thank you” to the pumpkin pie, or “I’ll pass” to the decadently frosted cookies, the more you will want them. Instead of giving them up all together, just eat dessert in small amounts. Ask for a smaller piece of pie, share a cookie with your little one. No matter how you do it, cherishing a sweet treat now will pay off in the long run.

Take it outside. It may be chilly, but the fresh, brisk air will do the body good. Bundle up after a meal and hit the pavement. Going for a short walk will burn some calories yes, but it will also keep you awake instead of that ‘groggy’ feeling I mentioned earlier.

Dress to Impress. It’s much easier to wear a big cozy sweater with loose fitting jeans, but if you take a little bit longer to get ready for your holiday gathering and wear something not so baggy, you will be more conscious of what you eat. The devil’s on your shoulder saying, “who cares, you’re wearing a baggy sweater no one will notice- just eat it,” won’t be as loud. Trust me, this actually does work. (And you can’t secretly unbutton your pants when your stomach expands if your top isn’t big enough to keep it hidden!) 

via pinterest

These tips may seem obvious, or they may be new to you. Either way, I hope hearing them helps. Like I said before, moderation is the key. Enjoying what the holidays have to offer is the most important thing this time of year, even if it means a few more calories. It’s better to be happy, friendly and enjoyable to be around than grumpy, stressed and constantly worried about what you are eating. Let’s be honest, no one wants to be around the ‘girl-who-only-talks-about-what-she-can’t-eat.’

Thanks again to Katie for letting me share my tips. Let me know if you have any holiday health tips to share! Wishing you all great health, and lots of happiness this holiday season!

Olivia