Monday, November 23, 2015

Top 10 Tips for a Mindfully Healthy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving! A time for family, friends, football, and of course FOOD.  Oh, the food- Turkey with dressing, gravy, green bean casserole, creamed corn, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, pumpkin pie, more pie, more pie, more pie.  Don’t forget the pie!  Throw in a few glasses of wine and ta’ da!!! You’re all set for the biggest and most delicious calorie fest of the year.

Sigh, but what a nightmare for those of us who have worked hard all year to reach our health goals.

As a health coach, I don’t believe in deprivation, starvation, or diets.  I teach my clients how to make healthy choices each day, no matter what the occasion- birthday dinners, happy hours, holidays, business dinners, or events.  There will always be an excuse to distract you from your goals, but you are stronger than that!

So here we go, my Top 10 Healthy Tips for a healthier Thanksgiving:

Tip #1 Have a plan before you sit down to eat.  Know which items are must haves and which foods you can do without.

Tip #2 Don’t starve until dinner!  If you are not eating until later in the day, don’t starve all day.  Eat your regular breakfast and lunch.  You will be less hungry when dinner time comes and you will eat less when turkey time comes.

Tip #3 Water.  Drink a tall glass of water before you sit down to eat. Water will help you feel full faster.  Drink another glass of water before reach for seconds.

Tip #4 Are you cooking? Fill your table with options that support your goals. Get creative and try healthier versions of your family’s favorite foods. Try new recipes that let you indulge in fancy salads and veggies.  I have included one of my favorites below!

Tip #5 Are you going to someone else’s home?  Cook a side or two to share that will support your goals.  That way you have plenty to eat without sabotaging all your hard work.

Tip #6 Serve yourself.  You know what your goals are and you know what your body needs.  If you serve yourself you can control the portion that goes on your plate. Other people may not have the same goals that you do.

Tip #7 Fill your plate at least half full of salad and veggies- the rest of the plate should be white meat turkey with small portions of other sides. If your table has a lot of sides limit yourself to 2. Ok, maybe 3.  I don’t want you to feel deprived. ☺

Tip #8 Limit alcohol.  Alcohol has a lot of empty calories with no nutritional value.  Your body metabolizes alcohol before food (which requires a lot from the body), so the calories you eat from food are not broken down as well.  If you choose to have wine or a cocktail, give yourself a limit.

Tip #9 Get up from the table once you are done eating. Relocate yourself instead of sitting in front of the food. Too tempting to nibble!  Throw the football around in the yard with the kids or take the dog for a quick walk!

Tip #10 Focus on getting some Soul Food.  You want to feel full?  Fill your heart and soul with love, kindness, and gratitude. Hug the children a little longer, tell someone how special they are to you, do something kind for yourself, love everyone around you in small and big ways.

My Favorite Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe: Roasted Winter Veggies
Sweet Potatoes
Brussel Sprouts
Butternut Squash
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Grapeseed Oil
Fresh Sage, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary
Herbs de Provence (dried seasoning with Lavendar)
Salt & Pepper

Start by cutting all the veggies about the same size.  Place cut veggies in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with just enough EVOO to cover the veggies and just a tiny drizzle of safflower oil, it has a slightly nutty flavor.  Roughly cut fresh Sage, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary and put on veggies. Season the veggies with Herbs de Provence, Salt & Pepper.  Mix all the ingredients until veggies are evenly coated.  Bake on a cookie sheet and roast in oven for 25 mins on 375 degrees.  You will want to turn the veggies about half way through.  Enjoy the smell of fresh herbs and Lavender!
Option:  Add pomegranate seeds, walnuts or pecans, last 5 mins of roasting veggies.














Let us all be thankful this season for all we have been gifted!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Shivani, The Glow Coach


About Me:  I’m a Holistic Health Coach and personal wellness advocate who works with women as they begin a journey of transformation. I don’t believe in deprivation, starvation, or diets. I work with clients to help them explore health and lifestyle changes that can help them reach their goals.  By forming a healing partnership with my clients I am able to support them as they discover how to transform their bodies from the inside out.  I’m lover of laughter and life!  Energize! Sweat! Glow!

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Interested in a free 45 minute consultation?  Email  me at assistant@glowcoachdallas.com
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2 comments:

  1. The roasted winter veggies looks delicious. It will served for thanksgiving this year. Thanks for the helpful tips. I will remember to drink water before meal and before seconds. It makes sense. I'm cooking. I will be on control this time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The roasted winter veggie looks delicious. It will served for thanksgiving this year. Thanks for the helpful tips. I will remember to drink water before meal and before seconds. It makes sense. I'm cooking. I will be in control this time.

    ReplyDelete