With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, you may be planning how you’re going to prepare (and eat) your favorite dishes. But Thanksgiving is when those trying to control their weight must be especially careful. Although it may be tempting to over-indulge in tasty food, you can do yourself more harm than good and ruin any progress you’ve made with maintaining a healthy weight.
But you can still enjoy yourself by making a few modifications to your plate this Thanksgiving. Here are some tips to help you make good choices for your body and keep yourself on the path toward good health.
Avoid Foods That Are High In Unsaturated Fats
Thanksgiving is chock full of foods that are big on flavor and high in unhealthy fats. Many people use Thanksgiving to engorge themselves on the foods that taste the best but do the most long-term damage to our health. Many studies show that regular consumption of foods high in saturated fats causes high blood pressure and can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Also, foods high in saturated fat can impact your waistline and ruin the hard work you’ve put in throughout the year. Some foods you may want to avoid or have small quantities of include
- Pies
- Cakes
- Biscuits
- Ice Cream
- Fried foods
- Fatty cuts of meat
Keep The Veggies Nearby
You’re sure to have plenty of sweets on the table this year, but you’ll have to resist the temptation in order to stay healthy and avoid picking up extra pounds. While you may want to load up on dinner rolls, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, make sure that you have plenty of vegetables on your plate, as they can help you stay on track with a healthy diet. Some of the vegetables that may help you stay disciplined are carrots, cabbage, spinach, and broccoli.
Watch Your Portion Size
Eating the right portions is one of the most crucial aspects of avoiding weight gain after Thanksgiving. Although you may want to get a taste of everything you see, doing so is a surefire way to ruin your waistline. A general rule of thumb to consider is that half your plate should consist of vegetables, with the other half divided between proteins and carbohydrates.
If you need advice on how to manage your diet, please call our Show Low office. Schedule an appointment today by calling us at (928) 537-4375.