Thanksgiving is here! I love this holiday and the values it teaches. It teaches family traditions, the value of giving, gratitude, and sharing food. However, Thanksgiving also means being around food, a lot of meal prep, the stress of hosting, and a lot of cooking. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and think you don’t have time to stick to your healthy routine. If you are on the quest to stay healthy this Thanksgiving Holiday, you are not alone. The good news is that it’s possible to enjoy this holiday and stay on top of your health goals. With some planning, you can have the healthy Thanksgiving you desire.

Here are my top five tips for enjoying a healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

5 Ways to Enjoy a Healthy Thanksgiving

Start Your Day Right

A national holiday doesn’t mean it’s no workout day. Keep your daily or weekly workout routine on the calendar. Clear the first two hours of your Thanksgiving morning. Plan for it the night before by putting your workout clothes out.

Sign-up for a Turkey trot and run it with friends while having fun. Local gyms have special HIIT-style classes on the schedule. So, hit the gym and revive your metabolism with intense Thanksgiving sessions.

Enjoy Outdoors

Get moving outdoors. You can make it a family affair. Visit a local park with kids. Take your guests and kids to a trail and go hiking late morning or early afternoon. Research shows that hiking has a positive impact on combating the symptoms of stress and anxiety. You will be a mood booster and a great bonding activity for your family and friends. Go for a gratitude run or walk. I love logging gratitude miles on Thanksgiving Day. I offer thanks for something or someone each mile I run. Offering gratitude in this manner makes up a nice long run too.

Take your guests and kids to a trail and go hiking late morning or early afternoon.

Eat All Your Meals

I have heard this so many times. I’m saving space for dinner tonight. Please don’t skip breakfast and lunch. It isn’t healthy to skip meals. It makes you very hungry by dinner, and it slows your metabolism. Starving all day will only make you eat everything in sight! Let go of your food restrictions this Thanksgiving related to your weight. Enjoy Thanksgiving all day by eating flavorful meals throughout the day.

Start your day with a balanced breakfast. A couple of hours before dinner, eat a light lunch or snack. Include thanksgiving flavors in your other meals. Go for pumpkin pancakes and eggs with a side of roasted squash. Try a fall salad topped with roasted chicken and pumpkin seeds for lunch. Spreading out Thanksgiving throughout the day will give your body time to digest and be satisfied. It will ensure your blood sugar is stable, and you won’t have unnecessary food cravings.

Let go of your food restrictions this Thanksgiving related to your weight.

Eat a Balanced Dinner

Food provides nutrition to your body, and food on holidays like Thanksgiving bring us closer to our loved ones. Eat a balanced meal on Thanksgiving Day and every other day of the year. Your plate should ideally have quality protein, healthy fibrous carbohydrates, and good fats. This combination of macronutrients in optimal amounts will help balance your blood sugar and keep your metabolic rate high. To balance your thanksgiving plate, fill half your plate with veggies like green beans, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and squash, then fill 1/3 of the plate with protein like turkey breast and finally fill the rest with healthy grains like brown rice, bulgur, quinoa, or whole grain bread. Top off your plate with healthy fat sources like olive oil and nuts. You can use this plating technique to visualize the amount of food you should have, but you don’t have to eat it that way!

Savor the Food

Food is supposed to be enjoyed, so consume it slowly. Slowing down while eating is a great way to communicate with our brains. Research shows that the body sends its satiation signal about 20 minutes after its full to the brain. This lag leads us to overeat often unconsciously. Savor your thanksgiving meal and enjoy the company of loved ones. Be present in the moment and enjoy every bite of your meal. Bon Appetit!

The good news is that it’s possible to enjoy this holiday and stay on top of your health goals.

It’s time to celebrate and offer gratitude for the people and experiences you cherish. This Thanksgiving, enjoys the outdoors, make it about friends and family, and enjoy balanced meals throughout the day. Following these tips, you can enjoy this holiday while staying on track with your healthy habits.