Although Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude, it can also introduce challenges associated with overeating or indulging in food with unhealthy ingredients. Instead of ending the day feeling uncomfortably full, make a plan to enjoy festive holiday food while still feeling your best. Read on for three tips to promote a healthy approach to the Thanksgiving holiday including links to virtual workouts and a free healthy Thanksgiving menu. This Thanksgiving menu combines recipes from the ebook cookbook Home & Healthy for the Holidays, which contains 30 healthy holiday recipes for only $10 and is available as an instant download at Buckingham Avenue.
How to have an active & healthy Thanksgiving
- Move your body before and after eating a big meal – go for a walk or check out the links below for virtual workouts.
- Eat breakfast and plan to eat a comfortable amount of food.
- Swap traditional ingredients with healthier options by following our free Thanksgiving menu and healthy recipes from the ebook cookbook Home & Health for the Holidays.
Tip No. 1: Move your body before and after eating a big meal.
Being active is an important way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether you have a strict workout schedule or rarely make activity a priority, many people skip any sort of activity on holidays such as Thanksgiving. Activity is important for so many reasons. Beyond being instrumental to weight loss, activity is a proven mood booster. Make a plan to do some sort of activity in the morning and evening. Something as simple as going for a walk is a great option. Activity can also include a workout with weights, HIIT, pilates, yoga, etc.
Many workout studios and gyms offer free or affordable virtual workouts on Thanksgiving morning (although some require a membership). Here are a few links to studios that are offering free or affordable virtual workouts:
- YMC Annual Burn Before the Bird
- Thanksgiving Gratitude Sculpt
- Gobbler Get Up ($10)
- Thanksgiving Day Bedtime Yoga Flow ($5)
Pinterest is also a great resource for workouts that you can do from home. Reach out to friends and family to encourage them to join you for a virtual workout. Accountability is so helpful and having a virtual workout buddy is a fun way to start the day. By beginning your day by being active, you’ll feel ready to enjoy a day full of food.
After indulging in festive holiday favorites, do something active in the evening. Gather your family and plan a walk together. For even more activity, plan a game or sporting event like a pickup football game. Moving in the evening will help digest your food and is a fun way to end the holiday.
Tip No. 2: Eat breakfast and plan to eat a comfortable amount of food.
Since most Thanksgiving meals tend to start in the afternoon, it is so important to eat a good breakfast in the morning. Fueling your body with a healthy breakfast like eggs and sausage, oatmeal, protein-packed ricotta pancakes, or an omelet with veggies can help maintain your appetite so that you’re not too hungry when you sit down for Thanksgiving. It is also important to drink water all day. Start in the morning and drink your last cup later in the evening.
Stick to smaller portions. When faced with holiday food, it is easy to fill a plate until it is overflowing. Serve yourself smaller amounts of food. This allows you to try each dish without becoming too full. You can most likely get seconds of any dish so there is no need to start with large portions. Another tip is to try using a smaller plate. This allows you to fill the plate while consuming less food than you would with a large plate.
The most important tip is to ENJOY the holiday and food. One day of overeating or eating an extra biscuit will not ruin your fitness progress or health. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Do your best to fuel your body with food and drinks that make you feel good while celebrating and giving thanks.
Tip. No 3: Swap a few traditional ingredients with healthier ingredients that allow you to feel your best.
There are so many recipes available that create traditional Thanksgiving dishes while swapping out traditional ingredients for healthier options. The free Thanksgiving menu below includes recipes that swap out refined sugar with coconut sugar or maple syrup, use lighter options like cauliflower mock potatoes instead of mashed potatoes, and offer gluten-free options for dishes like stuffing and cornbread muffins. Although these recipes include healthier ingredients, they’re relatively simple and still possess the traditional flavors and taste of Thanksgiving dishes.
Desserts like apple pie or pumpkin pie can also be made without refined sugar and even include a flakey almond flour crust. By using ingredients that allow you to feel better you can still indulge in your favorite holiday foods and feel good about what you consume. To recreate the recipes included in the menu below, check out the ebook cookbook Home & Healthy for the Holidays, which contains 30 healthy holiday recipes for only $10 and is available as an instant download at Buckingham Avenue.
Have an active & healthy Thanksgiving.
- Stay active by going for a walk or check out the links for virtual workouts above.
- Eat breakfast and appropriately sized portions during your main meal.
- Swap traditional ingredients with healthier options by following our free Thanksgiving menu and make the recommended healthy recipes from the ebook cookbook Home & Health for the Holidays.
