If the thought of prepping all the delicious Thanksgiving food has you stressed, we’re with you. Between the actual food prep, to deciding what recipes to make, things can get stressful. But PHF is here to share healthy Thanksgiving tips to make Thanksgiving dinner delicious, AND healthy. It is the holiday season, after all!
#1 Simplify Portion Control
Portion control on Thanksgiving can be particularly tricky. Even so, with some simple healthy Thanksgiving hacks, portion control on Thanksgiving doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
Divide Your Plate: You can divide your plate without using one of those cool official divider plates. Try to mentally split your plate into three portions. One large portion for your veggies, a medium section for your protein, and a small section for your carbs.
Eat Your Veggies First: When you dive into your Thanksgiving meal, start by eating your veggies first. You will be more likely to fill up on the healthy goodness, and only have a little room for that carb-heavy stuffing.
Listen to Your Body: While it’s easy to inhale a Thanksgiving meal, listening to your body is such a great healthy Thanksgiving tip that you can carry with you through the entire holiday season. Take a moment to just stop and listen to your body after you eat your first Thanksgiving dinner portion. Are you still hungry enough for a second plate, or is your body telling you to slow down? Try to tune in, and when you feel like you are mostly full, stop. You will feel SO much better and not as bloated and fatigued after a giant Thanksgiving meal.
#2 Get Side Dish Savvy
One of our favorite healthy Thanksgiving tips is to get side dish savvy. If you can make the side dishes yourself, that’s even better! But, if not, you can get creative with what’s offered at Thanksgiving dinner by being smart about your choices. Try to stick to veggies first and opt for a smaller plate, so there’s less room to fill up on the sides. This will leave more room for the main dish (like turkey) and less room for carb heavy sides.
If you’re bringing your own side dish, you can whip up something like mashed sweet potatoes made with a splash of coconut milk and sea salt. Or try making roasted veggies with carrots, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts with some olive oil and garlic.
#3 Make Those Sweets a Little Sweeter (for your health, that is…)
Here’s the thing — you can enjoy that piece of pumpkin or apple pie and do so without the sugar overload.
This year, make those sweets a little sweeter for your health by signing yourself up to be the one to bring the dessert to Thanksgiving dinner. This way, you can reduce the sugar content, and even consider swapping refined sugar with some pure maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar. You can even try swapping out that traditional whipped cream you serve with your favorite pie with some homemade coconut whipped cream instead. All you need is a can of full-fat coconut cream, a splash of vanilla extract, and a high-speed blender. Whip until it turns into a whipped cream-like consistency.
Now go and enjoy that Thanksgiving feast! You now know exactly how to enjoy Thanksgiving and all the deliciousness that comes with it, while continuing to keep your health in mind.
From our PHF family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!