We all know what the holiday’s mean. It is a time of thanks, a time to spend with family and friends, but it’s also a time for good food. The holidays only come around once a year and splurging isn’t bad one time a year, right? WRONG. More than likely, if you fall off the bandwagon this one time, you will continue with the pattern or you will feel really sick.
While this isn’t the end all if you binge on a Thanksgiving meal, heed the warning, you will feel sick if you eat a ton of food that you’re not used to. But what if we told you that there was a way to have your cake and eat it too, so to speak? There is. Check out how you can enjoy your holiday meal without totally overdoing it.
8. Eat Breakfast and Lunch
Image source: https://www.yessfit.com/eat-fruits-breakfast-lunch-lose-weight/
Often times we find ourselves starving ourselves throughout the day when it comes to holiday meals. The reason for this? So we can eat more. Silly, right? By doing this you actually get fuller faster because your stomach shrinks.
While this is unhealthy due to the chance of your blood sugar dropping or other negative health occurrences, you don’t want to do this just for the fact that there are health risks involved. Instead, eat a light breakfast and a small lunch. This will line your stomach enough for you to have the ability to counteract negative health risks and keep you moving throughout the day.
7. Continue with Your Routine
Image source: http://www.evidero.de/krafttraining-fuer-zuhause
Just because you’ve got a big meal planned, take thirty minutes to continue your normal routine. If you usually take an hour long jog, condense it down to 30 minutes. This will let your body know that you are still set on routine and won’t have a tough time getting back into the next day.
Cutting the time down does not mean that you have a lesser workout at a lesser intensity. If anything you should try working twice as hard. If you want to change up your workout try doing a HIIT workout routine. It isn’t for the weak!
6. Eat Your Dessert First
Image source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nancy-fuller/from-scratch-pumpkin-pie-2251073
You read that right. Dessert first isn’t a bad thing one day out of the year. In having your dessert first, you get to have exactly what you want. Scope out the field first. See the layout and all the food that is available and plan the rest of the meal.
While eating your dessert first, you take out the craving part out, and you also leave room for the more nutritious items that are around. Technically you’re not cutting out what you want most, you’re just having it first.
5. Eat Slowly
Image source: http://skinnyanddebtfree.com/2014/12/16/no-one-has-ever-starved-to-death-by-eating-slowly
Instead of scarfing down your food right off the bat, taking three bites at a time, and returning for seconds, take slow, purposeful bites. Stop and chat in between. Take a bite. It’s easy to eat slowly when you’ve got other obligations to fulfill like chatting with the group around you or purposefully taking slower bites, you become more aware of your surroundings.
4. Drink a Glass of Water
Image source: http://thinkflexi.com/top-5-health-benefits-of-drinking-water/
You’ve had a glass of water before dinner, make sure that you fill your glass before you sit down to eat too. An eight ounce glass of water with dinner will also help to slow your meal down. The water will fill in nooks and crannies that and make you feel more full.
You’ll have the food for your body to absorb the nutrients, but the water will also help your digestive system.
3. Small Portions
Image source: http://brainstrom.org/decrease-portion-sizes-get-started-eating-smaller-portions/
Try smaller portions– Smaller portions allow you to have more of what you want in lesser forms. The lesser amounts of food give you the opportunity to try new things too. While the smaller portions are great, don’t over eat. Don’t go back for seconds and thirds. Make sure you clear your plate, take a break, and let your food settle.
If you feel like you’re still hungry, go back for even smaller portion sizes. If you feel comfortable, leave it at that.
2. VBAL
Image source: http://www.muscleandfitness.com/muscle-fitness-hers/hers-nutrition/extra-serving-fruit-and-veggies-each-day-helps-keep-blues-away
VBAL? What is VBAL? Veggies before all else, of course. After you’ve eaten your dessert and you’ve filled your plate with smaller portions, eat the veggies first. If veggies are your favorite part of a meal, then you’ll have your favorite part of your meal first. If veggies are your least favorite, then you’ll save the best for last.
1. Do the Dishes
Image source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/9356714/Secret-of-a-mans-happiness-do-the-dishes-for-a-quiet-life.html
After you’ve eaten your food (in moderation), get up and help wash the dishes. Helping to clear the dinner table and washing the dishes can burn up to 100 calories. This also helps with the after dinner “slug” feeling. It saves you from the food coma and it also help with your metabolism.
While celebrating the holidays, there are tons of things to celebrate, but there are also tons of things to consider when it comes to the eating portion of the holidays. Don’t be that person that eats themselves to a coma or makes yourself uncomfortable. Remember to enjoy the time with your family and keep your body healthy.
The holiday’s aren’t a time to splurge or over eat, they are a time for joy and happiness. Enjoy your time, enjoy the food in moderation, and Happy Thanksgiving!
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