The Thanksgiving holiday is here, whether you’re ready or not…
Some of you may’ve found yourself dreaming about turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, dressing/stuffing, cranberries, and pumpkin pie….? OH MY! Don’t forget those dinner rolls, too!
Time to get out the stretchy pants and proceed to crawl into the fetal position post dinner, turn on TV, and enter food coma for the rest of the day. HA! Not so fast. You have a choice to do something different this year with these 5 tips, and you’ll still enjoy your holiday just as much.
5 Tips To Avoid A Thanksgiving Food Coma
Instead of focusing on all the food, focus on all the warm and fuzzy feelings you receive from this holiday! I’m not talking about the warm and fuzzy feelings you’re getting from your glass of wine or adult beverage of choice, either. But, the feelings of connection with others that you care about, and all that you have to be grateful and thankful for in your life….Trust me, people, gratitude, & connection, are more important than the food!
Don’t starve yourself all day and week long, thinking that you can make up for the calorie surplus that you’ll eat on Turkey Day. This will only cause you to feel deprived, be too hungry, and overeat, and then feel stuffed. Eat and exercise normally on the days leading up to the holiday. You’ll feel more nourished and able to make better decisions.
Eat, Drink, and be MINDFUL. Choose your favorite foods to indulge in and eat them SLOWLY. Savor the smell, taste, and texture of them. Don’t just eat food because it is there in front of you or someone else is trying to push food on you.
It goes without saying, but don’t stand and graze around the food table. Make a plate and take a seat to eat so that you can really see how much food you’re consuming. There’s nothing more mindless than standing and grazing. I know this only because I’m a huge offender of this and still have to remind myself to…#takeaseattoeat
Finally, wait 15 minutes or so before going back for seconds of your favorite foods on that day. Remember, food doesn’t continue to taste better the more you eat of it. There’s almost always leftovers that you can take home and eat later. #abundancemindset
Take a walk or get some activity in. Get a quick metabolic workout in before you head out to the dinner festivities like the one I recorded HERE. OR…even better, take a walk/hike before or after dinner with a friend or family member. Walking after a large meal is really helpful in preventing food comas and re-energizing you.
Before you sit down to eat, think to yourself, “How do I want to feel after this meal?” We all can remember a Thanksgiving that we ate and drank too much at, and it never feels good to be stuffed and lethargic. Sometimes this even carries over into the next day, which is a food coma that has turned into a hangover. #aintnobodygottimeforthat when there’s shopping to do!
Now I don’t expect you to incorporate all 5 in one day. Take a look, and see which one could benefit you the most based on your personal situation and previous history. You’ll have plenty of upcoming holiday parties and dinners to practice more at. Let me know in the comments below which tip you’re going to try this year!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Tommie