Giving Thanks and Enjoying Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day of community for so many people.  A chance to spend time with family and friends or helping others that are less fortunate.  Whatever you like to do, make sure that you take a moment to sit back and truly appreciate everything around you.

A lot of people equate Thanksgiving with eating and usually overeating.  However here are some tips for getting through the holiday.

The first turkey I ever cooked.

1.  Breakfast.  Start off your day with some fruit or something light for breakfast.  If you know you are going to have a heavy meal for lunch be careful about the calories for the rest of the day.  You need to think of it as a balance.  Below is an average day of eating.  Check out the amount of calories consumed.

Breakfast: 

1 large cinnamon roll: 309 calories, 14 g fat
3 slices bacon: 109 calories, 9 g fat

418 calories, 23 g fat 


While waiting for the meal: 

1 cup homemade eggnog: 343 calories, 19 g fat


The main event: 

6 ounces turkey (white meat, with skin): 214 calories, 6 g fat
1 cup mashed potatoes: 162 calories, 1 g fat
1/2 cup green bean casserole: 148 calories, 8 g fat
1 cup sweet potato casserole: 235 calories, 11 g fat
1 cup homemade noodles: 148 calories, 2 g fat
1/2 cup turkey gravy: 61 calories, 3 g fat
2 dinner rolls: 168 calories, 4 g fat
2 pats butter: 72 calories, 8 g fat
1/2 cup stuffing: 178 calories, 9 g fat
1 slice cranberry sauce: 86 calories, 0 g fat

1,471 calories, 52 g fat 
Second helpings of your favorites: 

1 cup sweet potato casserole: 235 calories, 11 g fat
1/2 cup stuffing: 178 calories, 9 g fat 

413 calories, 20 g fat 
Dessert after the big meal: 

1 slice pumpkin pie: 229 calories, 10 g fat
1/2 slice pecan pie: 245 calories, 13 g fat
1/2 apple pie: 119 calories, 6 g fat
4 T whipped topping: 50 calories, 3 g fat

642 calories, 31 g fat 
Sandwich during the game: 

6 ounces turkey (white meat, with skin): 214 calories, 6 g fat
2 slices whole-wheat bread: 256 calories, 5 g fat
1 T mayonnaise: 90 calories, 10 g fat 

523 calories, 18 g fat 

Late-night snack: 
1 slice pumpkin pie: 229 calories, 10 g fat
4 T whipped topping: 50 calories, 3 g fat 279 calories, 13 g fat 

Total: 4,243 calories, 182 g fat


This information is from Spark People  So make sure to balance your day.


2.  Be prepared.  Bring a dish that you have cooked that does not have so much fat and sugar in it.  A great dish would be green beans.  You just need a little bit of olive oil, zest of a lemon, salt and pepper and roast them in the oven.  They are delicious!  You will not miss the cream of mushroom soup.  You can enjoy the mashed potatoes instead.  


3.  Ah Moment.  Remember that a lot of us overindulge because we think we will not get this meal again until next year but guess what, you can make the dishes you enjoy anytime.  They do not have to all be at the same meal.  This took a long time for me to realize and I still struggle with this one.  I equate it to clean my plate club.  If I do not eat it, it will be gone forever.  Get rid of this thinking.


4. Portions. Watch your portions.  Enjoy all the dishes but just take a couple bites.  


5.  Exercise.  Make sure that you get some exercise.  Since we see that the average person eats around 4000 calories on Thanksgiving, get outdoors.  Get everyone on the Wii or do something else fun.  Play football in between watching the games that you like.  

6.  Enjoy.  My last tip is probably the most important one to me.  Make sure you enjoy your day.  Enjoy the people you are with, your surroundings, the food, football, or anything else you want to enjoy.  


I have not been able to be with my family on Thanksgiving for 18 years which makes me very sad but I have learned to enjoy the day in many other ways.  I now have the chance to spend time with my best friend and his family which I also consider family.  So as you are going through the day, make sure that you reflect on your surroundings and give thanks!