Let me start off by saying I absolutely am not a fan of restricting, especially on a day when you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself with friends, family, and yummy FOOD. I always preach how you can fit your favorite foods in your diet, and Thanksgiving day is no exception. However, some people may find Thanksgiving to be anxiety inducing because there is a lot of yummy (and maybe not so heart health or diabetic friendly) dishes on the menu. Here are some tips for Thanksgiving day that you can keep in mind for this holiday season:

1. Use smaller plates

When you use a large saucer plate to use to load up all of your foods, you may find yourself eating to an uncomfortable degree. Try using a smaller serving plate so your eyes don’t become bigger than your stomach.

2. Keep serving dishes on another table

It’s very easy to keep serving yourself when the food is right there in front of you. You will find yourself reaching for seconds less if you have to go into the other room or go to a different table to help yourself to seconds. 

3. Keep portions in mind

You can have all of your favorite holiday foods, but just be mindful of portions. Maybe load up on your greens first, but still have your portion of mashed potatoes and gravy, or dinner roll, or piece of pie. I know many people try to avoid some of these heavier or starchy dishes because they think they can’t have them, but some people may feel deprived if they have a mindset where certain foods are “off limits”. So go ahead and enjoy your favorite foods!

4. Leftovers

Keep in mind, you don’t have to eat everything in one day. There is plenty of time to eat leftovers, and many foods are just as tasty the next day. You can use leftovers to make turkey sandwiches, turkey soups or stews, or have some extra side dishes that you can use the next few days. You can even bag items up and freeze into meals that you can reheat for many months (if needed)! Just make sure to store foods at a safe temperature and throw out if it’s been too long.

I hope you all enjoy your holiday meals, and enjoy time with friends or family in a safe way.