A Simple Thanksgiving Dinner Tip That Will Keep You Slim, Trim, and Guilt Free…Maybe
Posted: Sunday, November 08, 2009
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
If you are fortunate to be a part of a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner this year, how in the world can you enjoy it and yet not get fat! There are many ways. Some ways take planning and assessing exactly what is available at your feast and then only eating the healthy stuff. Doesn't sound very Thanskgivingish does it? Others tell us to eat a breakfast and a light lunch before the big dinner. Makes sense; fill up before the good stuff. Yet others say to drink lots and lots of water before you eat. Drinking loads of water may certainly fill you up to the point of not overeating but this one seems like a sure way to ruin a fine meal. I say; unless you have a health issue and you need to watch your diet closely, don't do any of these things.
One of the best ways to keep at a healthy weight, no matter what some complicated diet programs say is to eat in moderation and utilize portion control. This is simple yet not so easy for many of us. I have always had problems with portion control. I often struggle at it but it works for me and I keep at a pretty good weight. The good news with portion control is that on those occasions where there is plenty of great food on the table I can have a little of it all. Sounds selfish and I suppose it is but what can I say; I love food. Again, I remind myself not to go overboard and I usually do not.
I read where a nutritionist said an average Thanksgiving dinner eaten in moderation is around 2,000 calories. That number makes sense to me and for a holiday dinner that comes around once a year it is not excessive. However, for me, if I did not remind myself to practice portion control, I could easily quadruple that caloric intake. It is so easy to just eat and eat and eat.
Many of us will be fortunate to have plenty of great food in front of us this year. If you want to enjoy the dinner and keep a handle on your weight and health eat everything your heart desires, just do not eat too much of it.
What if you overeat? Join the club, who hasn't. If you happen to eat an extra serving of turkey smothered with gravy, walk around the block after dinner. If you happen to lose your self-control and eat an extra piece of everything, walk around the block and keep walking until daylight. Who knows it may be one of those holidays where I lose portion control too, and if that's the case, you may see me walking right next to you. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)The last Thanksgiving dinner we hosted we threw some exercise into the mix and no one was the wiser. The guys tossed the football around in the backyard and all thirteen of us went for a walk around the lake before dinner, enjoying the fall colours. We went for a shorter walk again after dinner. It's not all about the food, it's about the people you're sharing it with. I have found over the years I'm better off eating something of everything, keeping portion control in mind. That way I'm not laying in bed later craving something I didn't try and asking myself, "Why didn't I try those squares when I had the chance." Eat, enjoy, and be thankful! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.Thanks for reading and writing Brianna--enjoy the sharing with friends and family.
Steve,Great article and some excellent advice. The problem is not 'pigging out' on Thanksgiving, it is that too many people 'pig out' every day. One of the best things I learned from my mom was to get up from the table feeling like you could eat more. It is a little piece of advice that could go a long way in many of our choices today.Thanks...I hope everyone reads this!You're right--the real problem is pigging out every day. I just got finished eating pizza and I had a hard time walking away when I should have--I'm going for a walk right now! Thanks for writing......
The good thing is I have the metabolism of a bird. The bad thing is I'm working on Thanksgiving. I wish you and yours a happy and healthy one, though, and even though I'll be working I give thanks to what I have and especially thanks to not needing what I don't have. Well done.Hey Mike--I too used to have a fast metabolism--everyone used to be jealous, I used to eat all day. Then I hit a certain age and you know the rest of the story. Enjoy the day even if it's at work and thanks for writing.
Enjoy and be thankful! It helps if the cook is tuned in to making delicious things in a lower calorie version (I make a special green pea, mushroom and celery thing that tastes wonderful and has a fraction of calories that "green bean casserole" does.)Good article and timely! MarijoPlease send me some of that green pea, shroom, celery thing--sounds good and I'm always hungry--thanks for writing.
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