Thanksgiving Tips

A Thanksgiving Bouquet

Thanksgiving is almost here, so here's a few tips to get you through the holiday healthy and happy!

First, yes, the focus on Thanksgiving Day is often, food, food and more food. And eating and eating, until we're about to burst, miserable and feeling guilty.

Here's a couple of tips for enjoying the holiday, instead of only surviving it (and many people have heart attacks after the Thanksgiving meal!)

Remember: it's only food. In this land of plenty, for most people, the food will be there tomorrow. And in the case of Thanksgiving, it will be there tomorrow and tomorrow and...we all have freezers and refrigerators for leftovers. If you're a guest and you love the turkey etc. and feel like you won't get enough at the meal--make one at home. The sense of deprivation is one thing that can lead to overeating.

Also, there is usually a vast overabundance of food on this holiday--so plan ahead for what you will have at the meal and what you can forgo. For example, if you regularly have potatoes for dinner, why eat them on Thanksgiving? On the other side, I believe that pumpkin pie makes the holiday--and it's the only time I eat pumpkin pie--so I make sure I have a slice.

Perhaps the main point is: relax. It's one day out of the year, so if you eat differently than usual, oh, well. If you eat as you usually do, oh well.

The main thing is to...

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!