6 Ways Not To Stuff Yourself Like A Turkey This Thanksgiving

It’s the 2018 holiday season and you’re heading into the annual food coma Thanksgiving Day feast. Historically, this is the season American’s put on extra weight because of lack of exercise, eating too much, and hitting the sweets. Here are my top 6 ways to not stuff yourself like a turkey this Thanksgiving.

1. Use a Small Plate – Always use small plates when serving Thanksgiving dinner. A study found that when plate size was doubled, people served themselves 41% more on average. Thus, a smaller plate means less room you’ll be taking back to your seat.
2. Your First Plate – Your first plate should be a huge salad. Eating a huge salad first ensures there’s less room for all of the sides and turkey on your Thanksgiving dinner. Don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of room to get your taste of the holidays, just trust me on this one.
3. Dip Don’t Pour – Use less of the dressings by always getting it on the side. This goes for salad dressings and the gravy. There is actually a method for this called the fork method. It involves dipping your fork naked into the dressing, shaking off the excess, and then scooping the salad, mashed potatoes, or turkey. This method allows you to get the flavors of the dressing without the added gluttony.
4. Feeding Window – I know, all the snacks are there for the taking well before Thanksgiving dinner. Keep a strict feeding window of 1-1.5 hours and layoff the snacks beforehand, especially if they’re empty carb bombs. This will ensure you won’t spike your glycemic index and pack on the extra pounds that come with holiday dinners. Pro tip: If you feel yourself slipping, drink a glass of water feast on some raw broccoli, carrots, or celery if you’re that hungry.
5. Chew Chew Chew – Yes, you should look and sound like a camel when chewing. It is extremely important to thoroughly chew your food. It helps prime the digestive process by releasing salivary enzymes and stomach acid that break down food for better absorption. Also, properly chewing your food reduces bacterial overgrowth on undigested particles. This bacterial overgrowth can lead to gas, bloating, and constipation. Thirdly, it helps slow down the intake of food so your gut has time to tell your brain you’re full. You should chew your food up to 30 times before swallowing for optimal results.
6. Keep The Conversation – Remember, this is a break from the busy day to day bustle. It’s more important to catch up with friends and family than overstuffing your face. Keep the conversation going with your crazy Aunt. You might find out she’s not so crazy. After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Use these 6 simple tips to not stuff yourself like a turkey and stay healthy this Thanksgiving 2018!