Looking for some good ideas to make Thanksgiving a bit healthier? I’m not talking about eating twigs and running marathons, I’m suggesting a bit of middle ground here.
Nutrition and fitness are often treated like black and white battlegrounds. You’re either eating a raw vegan diet or binging on pizza and wings. You’re either training for an ironman or binging Netflix for whole weekends at a time. I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t need to be this way. You’re more likely to enjoy lifelong health if you simply make several, consistent, small pivots toward a better diet and more activity.
Make Healthy the Default
Make it easier to eat healthy and stay active by arranging your environment around the holidays. The objective is to make the healthier and healthiest choices the most convenient choices. A few tips:
Keep treats stored out of reach so an indulgence must be deliberate rather than mindless grazing.
Use 9” plates instead of 12” plates. And for that matter, use a plate. We often don’t even account for grazing food choices. But, keep in mind how eating “just a cookie” or “just one piece of reindeer bark” multiple times will adds up.
Put your running shoes and fitness clothes out and visible so they are top of mind.
Keep healthier foods and beverages at eye level and ready to be eaten (cut, chopped and in glass containers). Think about it, don’t you eat more veggies at a salad bar? Why would this be? They are chopped, colorful and ready to go. Less work = more likely to eat.
Beyond your environment, consider some healthier spins on holiday favorites or introducing a new seasonal dish.
Winning Holiday Dishes
I’ve listed some healthier holiday recipes to get you started. Do you need to replace all the family recipes? Not unless you want anarchy on the holiday. Instead, try one or two new things this year.
Main Course
Butternut Squash Shepherd's Pie (Vegan, made with lentils)
Roasted Thanksgiving Bowls (Vegan)
Image credit: http://www.ilovevegan.com
Sides
Image credit: http://www.flexitariannutrition.com
Desserts
Image credit: http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com
Enjoy Non-Food Activities
When you’ve planned your meal and enjoyed the cooking, what non-food activities can you do that will also bring you peace and joy? We cover plenty of ground on physical activities like hikes and bike rides but there are other options too. How about a family game? We are partial to catch phrase, quarkle, headbands and Uno. Twister is also a lot of fun but might not be a good option this holiday season.
Another good option is a puzzle. I especially like holiday-themed puzzles, puzzles of places you want to go (think tropical island or wonders of the world) or even a family photo puzzle (get your favorite picture turned into a puzzle).
Create a Holiday Season that Doesn’t Require a “Fresh Start” on January 1
Make a few small adjustments this holiday season to avoid the January 1 “Fresh Start”. You don’t need to be a sloth or a glutton to get the most out of the holidays. In fact, you’ll probably enjoy them more if you don’t have to make up for them the remaining 10 months out of the year.
I hope you have found this article valuable. If you have more to add, we’d love to hear it! Comment in the Forum or on Facebook at fb.com/fuelmoverecover
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