How to eat healthier on Thanksgiving

Overindulgence is a common Thanksgiving theme. With a plate full of carbs, sugars, and gravy, it’s easy to deviate from your regular diet and overeat. The good news is that you don’t have to become a victim this year. Instead, follow our tips on how to keep it healthy this Thanksgiving.

Instead of bathing the bird in butter…

This herb roasted turkey is highly rated and requires no butter in the recipe. Or, if you prefer a vegetarian option, make this Wild Rice Stuffed Squash. With ingredients like cinnamon powder, dried cherries and fresh sage, this recipe can make the holiday a vegetarian celebration every year.

Instead of sweet potato casserole…

Make these roasted sweet potatoes with honey and cinnamon. You get the same taste without the calories. You can finish the dish with chopped pecans, which gives it a crunchy taste similar to the typical topping of a sweet potato dish.

Instead of mashed potatoes…

Swap the butter for olive oil, put down the potato masher, and forget about adding boiled potatoes to your Thanksgiving to-do list. Before baking, these red potatoes are cut into cubes and placed on a baking sheet with rosemary, garlic and salt.

Instead of canned cranberry sauce…

Make your own. Cranberry sauce, yes Real easy to make. Plus, the sauce turns out flavorful and fresh instead of… squishy. An added bonus: you can make this side the night before.

Instead of high-calorie filling…

Try leaving out the carbs for cauliflower. This recipe is made on the stovetop, so you no longer have to worry about balancing the cooking time with the turkey in the oven. With the additions of carrots, onions and mushrooms, the concoction is a vegetable mix that tastes more like stuffing, which we call a win-win.

Instead of creamed green beans…

Buy a whole bunch of fresh green beans to make this recipe. Cut some mushrooms and red onion into pieces. Pour some olive oil over it and place the dish in the oven for 15 minutes. While it’s cooking, fry some breadcrumbs with oregano. Add the Parmesan cheese and the zest of a lemon. Coat the green beans with the breadcrumb mixture and serve!

Instead of a regular pumpkin pie…

This clever baker adds treats like whipped cream to her pumpkin pie, while still offering a recipe with less fat and calories And the addition of some protein. For best results, make it the night before; it will be one less thing to add to the oven on the day off, and you will achieve much cleaner cuts.

Think about the board

Sure, those potatoes look delicious, and cranberry sauce is one of those things you can only eat during the holidays, but if you’re really trying to have a healthy Thanksgiving, you need to know what a healthy Thanksgiving plate looks like. A good rule of thumb is to think about your plate this way:

• Half of the plate should contain vegetables
• ¼ of the plate is for proteins
• ¼ of the place is for starch

For the remaining bits, like cranberry sauce and gravy, you should have very small portions – which we think should be consumed full of calories. Think of them as a garnish.

7 Tips for a Healthier Thanksgiving!

Tip #1: Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated, as many Thanksgiving meals are packed with sodium.
Tip #2: Choose 1-2 dishes to enjoy. Are you looking at the pumpkin pie? Enjoy a piece; make sure it’s in moderation.
Tip #3: Go outside. Enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather with your friends and family. Try a new hiking trail, walk around your neighborhood, or even a local Turkey Trot!
Tip #4: Beat the post-Thanksgiving meal with a cup of coffee or hot green tea. Both options have been shown to help increase metabolism.
Tip #5: Start your day with breakfast. Eat a hearty and healthy breakfast such as oatmeal, a vegetarian scramble or rye bread to get the day off to a good start.
Tip #6: Stay away from the appetizer table. It’s hard to resist the temptation when there are a lot of snacks in front of you. Instead, try sitting in the living room and enjoying a conversation with your friends and family.
Tip #7: Schedule a fat-burning workout for the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a great way to kick-start your long holiday weekend.

We hope you now know how to stay healthy on Thanksgiving. If you find that pain is getting in the way of you enjoying your vacation, let’s fix it. Make an appointment with our physiotherapy clinic today.