| tips to help out with having an enjoyable, | | | | instead of pies. |
| yet healthy holiday season. | | | | |
| | | | - Make the recipe for Low Fat Thanksgiving |
| The holiday season is upon us once again. | | | | Green Bean Casserole below. |
| Unless you want to be thankful for an extra 7 | | | | |
| to 10 pounds of weight gain by New Year's, | | | | Tip #3: Use strategy. |
| consider this: the average person consumes | | | | |
| around 3,500 calories just on Thanksgiving | | | | Traditional Thanksgiving food items weren't |
| day. Yowza! That equates to one pound in | | | | all created equal - nutritionally that is. |
| extra calories-not including partaking in all | | | | Roasted white turkey meat (without skin) is a |
| the leftovers. Here's a few tips and | | | | great source of lean protein. Vegetable |
| strategies to overcome the challenge of | | | | dishes (without added fats) are also very |
| weight gain beginning with Thanskgiving | | | | healthy. On the other hand, buttery mashed |
| dinner. | | | | potatoes, white bread rolls, cream based |
| | | | dishes, and heavy gravy are all packed with |
| Tip #1:Take 2 steps to start your day right. | | | | fat and calories. Fill your stomach with the |
| | | | healthy items first - white turkey meat and |
| Step One: Eat breakfast. You see, most people | | | | plenty of vegetables. Then simply 'sample' |
| skip breakfast on Turkey day in order to | | | | the less healthy items in small portions. |
| 'save room' for the feast - maybe you have | | | | This is so easy to do, save you lots of extra |
| done this yourself. When you eat a healthy | | | | calories, and you don't have to feel like you |
| breakfast that is high in both fiber and | | | | are denying yourself, either. |
| protein two great things happen. | | | | |
| | | | Tip #4: Pace yourself. |
| - Your metabolism is started early in the | | | | |
| day, thus catapulting you into full fledged | | | | Most people get into trouble at Thanksgiving |
| calorie burning mode. This will come in handy | | | | dinner by eating full speed ahead until they |
| later in the day. | | | | finally realize that they are full (after |
| | | | their second and third helping). The trouble |
| - You won't be famished when you sit down for | | | | with this method is the lag time in |
| dinner, so you will have less room to binge. | | | | communication between your stomach and brain. |
| (This means fewer calories land on your | | | | In reality, you probably satisfied your |
| waist.) | | | | hunger with your first plate of food, but |
| | | | your stomach takes a while to get that |
| Step Two: Exercise for 30-60 minutes. I know | | | | message to your brain. And during that lag |
| exercise is the last thing on your mind on a | | | | time you took the opportunity to go for your |
| busy holiday, however it is worth your | | | | second and third plate of food. This year sit |
| effort. You will negate some of the extra | | | | calmly in your chair after that first plate |
| holiday calories and your metabolism will | | | | and wait at least 20 minutes before getting |
| climb even higher. | | | | seconds. You will be surprised to find that |
| | | | the thought of more food doesn't sound good |
| Tip #2: Lighten the menu. | | | | anymore - and you will have saved yourself |
| | | | unnecessary weight gain. |
| If you are the lucky one in control of the | | | | |
| menu, that makes it easier. As chef you can | | | | Tip #5: Get Support to Keep Off the Weight |
| make a few modifications to the meal that | | | | |
| will drastically reduce the fat and calorie | | | | Want to make this holiday season extra |
| intake of each guest. Try the following to | | | | special? Why not start your very own phone |
| lighten your meal: | | | | coaching program with a weight loss coach |
| | | | right now! Together you will keep the holiday |
| Use nonfat yogurt or sour cream in place of | | | | pounds away. Hiring a coach is different |
| heavy cream-based dips and dressings. | | | | than recruiting a friend to diet with, or |
| | | | asking your spouse to help. Truth be told, |
| - Replace traditional stuffing with an | | | | it's doubtful either one of these "supports" |
| assortment of chopped vegetables. Fill your | | | | are going to hold up when put to the test. |
| turkey with mushrooms, eggplant, onions and | | | | If your spouse is anything like mine, he's no |
| celery. Or replace half of your traditional | | | | help at all. I'd get, "It's a party, enjoy |
| stuffing with chopped vegetables. | | | | yourself!" Or, "It's Christmas, have what |
| | | | you want." And a diet buddy is probably no |
| - Flavor your mashed potatoes with roasted | | | | better. When it comes down to it, they |
| garlic instead of butter. Or serve baked | | | | aren't going to jeopardize your friendship |
| sweet potatoes instead of butter laden mashed | | | | over a diet failure. |
| potatoes. | | | | |
| | | | Having a happy holiday season does not have |
| - Roast vegetables without oil - use cooking | | | | to mean putting on excess weight. Using |
| spray instead and toss them with dill. | | | | these simple, easy strategies can help you |
| | | | avoid being one of those people who end up 10 |
| - Use unsweetened apple sauce or pureed plums | | | | pounds heavier by New Year's. I hope these |
| instead of butter or oil in dessert recipes. | | | | five tips keep you fit and healthy this |
| | | | holiday season. |
| - Put out an assortment of fruit for dessert | | | | |