Six Tips for A Happy, Healthy, Low Carb Thanksgiving

If you have been working hard to follow a low carb eating plan, and you’re worried that the upcoming Holidays will throw you back into carb cravings and hunger pangs, you are not alone! Frankly, one of the most common reasons for people to fall off their eating plans is the Holidays! After working with people who are trying to gain health for many years, I can tell you that getting back on that horse can be HARD for a lot of people!! Those cravings come back with a VENGENCE! So, to prevent a colossal set back, there are several strategies that can help keep you on track. Not every plan is going to work for everyone, so I will list a few options, and you can decide if any of these tickles your fancy!

1.      Make low-carb versions of your favorite Thanksgiving foods, such as turkey (duh), browned butter cauliflower mash, keto cornbread stuffing, low carb Holiday bread, low-carb pumpkin pie, and peanut butter cup cheesecake. Check out https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/recipes/keto-thanksgiving

2.      If you don’t want to pass up your favorite Thanksgiving foods, or are eating with people who don’t share your passion for low carb versions of Thanksgiving foods, this tip might work for you: Fill up on turkey, green beans, and roasted veggies first. Take your time, enjoying conversations, whether in person or over zoom, between bites. Wait 20 minutes, and then go back for some of the “carbier” sides, and just take a small spoonful of the things you really want and savor them! Avoid the crust on the pie, and just take a small slice and enjoy every little bite! Skip the sides you don’t absolutely love (those rolls are really just wasted real estate in your stomach)!

3.      Don’t starve yourself the day of Thanksgiving hoping to “save up” your calories/ carbs for dinner. Have a healthy breakfast with some protein, healthy fats, and fiber such as some eggs with cheese, salsa, and avocado, or a protein shake with some chia seeds. Have a small meal for lunch, such as some tuna salad on a lettuce wrap, and make sure you’re not ravenous before the Big Meal.

4.      If you so desire, have some wine with your family, but watch how much you are drinking! Drinking too much can lower your inhibitions, and next thing you know you could end up face down in a pumpkin pie! Pour yourself a small amount and alternate your alcoholic beverage with water. Avoid sweet drinks or carb-heavy drinks. Stick to dry red or white wines, champagne, light beer, or spirits (as long as you don’t mix it with juice or soda). For information on carbs and alcohol, check out: https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/alcohol

5.      Start the day with some activity! Go on a fall family walk, run a virtual Turkey Trot, or throw a football around in the backyard. Plan some fun, active family activities like cornhole, or have a dance party with the kids! An after-dinner walk may also help you digest your food and allow you to burn off some of that extra fuel hanging around in your blood steam.

6.      Remember that one day isn’t going to make or break you. If you did go a little overboard on Thanksgiving (and trust me, I will probably be on that train), just remember that your next meal is your next opportunity to get back on track. The sooner you get back on track with your healthy eating, the less likely it is that you will fall off your plan. Give those leftovers to your family or neighbors, freeze it, or, if you know it’s not going to benefit your health, throw it away. You are not a human garbage disposal. It’s better in the trash than in your body. I know a lot of people have a visceral reaction to throwing food away, but that food isn’t going to someone who is going hungry, and you know it. To avoid food waste, try not to go overboard on the amount of food you prepare in the first place, unless it’s the healthy stuff!

Lastly, don’t stress, and for God’s sake, don’t beat yourself up about your food choices. You don’t have to be perfect on your eating plan. Remember that whatever you are doing is meant to be a lifestyle change, not a temporary fix that you discontinue as soon as you hit your goal, or as soon as you decide you’re tired of it. It’s a lifelong journey, which means that it’s impossible to be perfect. Rather, its about consistency. Eat and move in a way that is consistent with your health goals and with your life goals. Eat in a way that that makes you feel good (and I’m not talking about that moment when it hits your lips….I’m talking about how you feel an hour later, a day later, a month later, and years later). And last but not least, let’s remember what this day is really all about: Gratitude, Family, Friends, and Love.

I hope you all have a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!!

Gobble, Gobble!!