Thanksgiving Meal ..... It's coming!!

artist_of_life2003
artist_of_life2003 Posts: 8 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Okay, as we all know...Thanksgiving is literally right around the corner. I am curious as to how members are going to handle that day considering that the average plate of food on that day is approx. 3000 calories. YES...that many. And....I don't think that includes the pie. SO.....just wondering how you will handle it, and what tricks you may want to share with the rest of us. I am so going to try to eat and cook healthy that day....hopefully my family won't notice when I slip the "whipped tofu pumpkin pie" in the menu!! Let us all know what you plan on doing different this year...or what has worked best for you in the past!!
«1

Replies

  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    Cycling to work every day next week, about 18 miles round trip a day. I also plan on eating well under my calorie goal every day with a deficit of approx. 700 calories per day for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. With the rain and cold weather, this should allow me to comfortably eat that level of calories on Thursday without feeling totally stuffed. I also plan on bringing my food scale to dinner and logging what I eat. I don't plan on making any "healthy" choices, I'm going to indulge in the traditional meal, I just am curious how much I can put away in one sitting. :bigsmile:

    I could potentially start a bulking cycle right after the holiday weekend. I think the Thanksgiving meal would be a decent start to a bulking cycle, but I'll have to be sure to have the time in my schedule for all those hours at the gym.
  • tarahale78
    tarahale78 Posts: 6
    Before I go to my mother's for dinner I am going to eat something healthy here at home. That way when I get there, I'm not hungry and don't want much of anything. When I do get a plate, I will be taking my own portion size plate that I got when I was pregnant to help me with my gest. diabetes. Also, I will be drinking water instead of pop, tea, juice or milk.
  • djc315
    djc315 Posts: 585 Member
    I am going to go for a 4 mile walk in the morning, then eat what I want during the day.

    It is one day a year. The days coming up to it and after it, I will eat at my normal calorie intake.
  • Christylee76
    Christylee76 Posts: 138 Member
    I am glad you mentioned this. I am dreading that day too calorie wise. My husband says to just let it go for one day, however, I cannot.
  • kayla1125
    kayla1125 Posts: 31
    I was worried about Thanksgiving coming up but have decided that I am disciplined enough now to just eat one plate and not over do it. I plan on making healthy choices with the exception of the Turkey and Dressing that my mom makes, but it will be portioned out. I will not take any leftovers home either. I also plan on exercising that day and not getting off my schedule that I have set for myself as far as exercise is concerned. I love all the food at Thanksgiving, but I have come so far that I am not going back with this meal.
  • cowgirlashlee
    cowgirlashlee Posts: 301 Member
    I'm going to indulge like normal ;) but I load my plate with the veggies from the relish tray my uncle always brings, the cornbread casserole my mom makes, potatoes, and homemade sausage dressing...mostly the relish tray veggies! I don't eat the turkey (not a fan of it unless it's mixed into gravy and drenching mashed potatoes...not a healthy choice so I'm avoiding that), I don't like ham, and my mom won't make any chicken. I know, not great choices, but I know the calorie count in my mom's potatoes pretty well, the corn casserole isn't that many per serving, and the dressing is just freaking AMAZING.

    I'm limiting myself to one slice of peanut butter pie (and saving myself some cheesecake for Friday) and having raspberry tapioca as dessert.

    Oh, and this is probably all I will eat on Thanksgiving, since we eat at an odd time. I'll still workout like normal, but I wont beat myself up over it if my calories are over (if I even bother to log them).
  • alaskaang
    alaskaang Posts: 493 Member
    The biggest difference this year is that I can no longer eat bread, so there will be no stuffing. :( I'm hoping that the alternative rice dish I make with all the same spices and other ingredients will satisfy the traditional flavor craving. Other than that, I plan to eat as much as I want and enjoy it.

    I look at my calories on a weekly basis, so I will be restricting Sunday through Wednesday to some degree and hitting the gym every day. In the end, shouldn't be much different overall than any other week.
  • AngelsheriHackley
    AngelsheriHackley Posts: 67 Member
    I don't plan to eat that much different maybe one cheating item that's it I have come too far to mess up now.
  • metacognition
    metacognition Posts: 626 Member
    Actually, I'm going to eat whatever I want. Life is supposed to be pleasurable. I'll increase my cardio and weight lifting in the week prior to and after that day, and cut my intake to1200 calories the next day.
  • dleg6380
    dleg6380 Posts: 1 Member
    Last year I made a good sized salad with veggies galore and a small amount of turkey on top and balsamic dressing. This filled me quickly and I was able to eat a small sliver of pumpkin pie, which is my favorite that I could not deny myself. But I felt OK all day, not stuffed like the turkey on the table!
  • just4nessa
    just4nessa Posts: 459 Member
    I seem to have established a pattern of one splurge meal a month so Thanksgiving will be it. We haven't planned the menu yet, but sweet potato casserole, stuffing and gravy will definitely be on the list. Other than that, i might replace lunch with a light snack so I don't feel so guilty about dinner. Lots of veggies, salad and a 9:30am Zumba class to get me revved up.
  • Allihexen
    Allihexen Posts: 111 Member
    Most of my stuff is made to be diet savvy. I've also decreased my calories for the time being. We'll see how it goes.
  • Troll
    Troll Posts: 922 Member
    Im going to eat whatever, in quantities that will leave me full. Then ill drive two hours, repeat, drive two more hours, repeat.
  • FitandFab33
    FitandFab33 Posts: 718 Member
    I'm an apocalyptic eater (one "slip" or indulgence often leads to a WEEK of crap and gym aversion) so I'll be having a plain baked sweet potato sprinkled with chopped pecans, a hefty serving of baked turkey breast, and a bunch of water :-) Pretty much food as usual for me...
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member
    Basically I'm not going to worry about strict calorie control BUT...


    I will make choices. Some things I really really really like. I have it. If it's not on my OMG list, it's okay to skip it even if I do like it.

    I will limit my portions. It's about tasting and enjoying. It's not about over stuffing ourselves. Save that for the turkey.

    I do not have to eat absolutely everything. I also do not have to eat a lot of anything. Nor do I need plates and plates of food. One is enough.

    Chill. Socialize. Enjoy the day. Don't make it all about the food.
  • rosesigil
    rosesigil Posts: 105 Member
    Hi, I'm planning what I will make and eat ahead of time: turkey, stuffing, candied sweet potato, cheese potato, whole cranberry sauce, peas, pecan pie, diet iced tea, coffee. I know the calories and yes they are about 3000 for just that dinner. I'm counting and I know I will be way over for that day. Just that day. I won't extend it beyond that day. I've prelogged it and actually I may not be able to eat that much when the day comes! We'll see, but I'm just going to enjoy and then back to normal on Friday! Oh yean, I forgot crescent rolls! Hope I didn't make evryone hungry! I did my own self! :happy:
  • yourenotmine
    yourenotmine Posts: 645 Member
    I'm all alone, so I'll eat whatever I have here, and maybe rake some leaves. Yippee.
  • Ivey05131980
    Ivey05131980 Posts: 1,118 Member
    I'm planning on eating a light breakfast, whatever I want at lunch and dinner (we have 2 families to celebrate with) and get back on the wagon on Friday...hope it won't be too bad!
  • TravelDog14
    TravelDog14 Posts: 317 Member
    I'm taking the mature avoidance route and working Thanksgiving Day and the day after.

    There will be no temptation, it's the best way for me to deal with it.
  • Wetterdew
    Wetterdew Posts: 142 Member
    I'm an apocalyptic eater (one "slip" or indulgence often leads to a WEEK of crap and gym aversion) so I'll be having a plain baked sweet potato sprinkled with chopped pecans, a hefty serving of baked turkey breast, and a bunch of water :-) Pretty much food as usual for me...

    YES!! I am exactly the same way. Just one slip-up and it all goes out the window. I am so horrible at recovering!
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    I signed the family up for a 5k and then I'm going to focus on the lean turkey meat and tubers. Turkey is filling and low cal.
  • ubermensch13
    ubermensch13 Posts: 824 Member
    I'm going to eat EVERYTHING I see. Then I'm going to eat the pie, then another one just to show the first pie it wasn't that special!! Seriously, I"m going to gorge. It is, after all, only one day.
  • ilovelucy711
    ilovelucy711 Posts: 381 Member
    Well, I am going to work out and eat healthier during the week. On Thanksgiving Day, I am going to eat more heathy items and not overload on the junk. Also were taking family photos that day so I will get to walk!
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    I am going to EATZ ALL DA FOODZ, have not had a cheat day in over 11 months, ONE DAY ONLY I AM ENJOYING IT>
  • killingtheantagonist
    killingtheantagonist Posts: 178 Member
    Well considering that me and my mom are the ones cooking and we're not having anything extravagant, I'm gonna eat like normal.
    I'll be satisfied that way.
    Plus it's ONE day, you're allowed to live a little for one day I think.
  • Ronngie
    Ronngie Posts: 295 Member
    I'm going to have a little of everything that I want, my Mom is such a fantastic cook.
    I am not having any alcohol this year either. We go for a walk every year, so I am looking forward to that too!
  • I_love_frogs
    I_love_frogs Posts: 340 Member
    I am working out M/T and W night. Instead of regular mashed potatoes I am making my special holiday potatoes (using yukon gold potatoes, parsley, a touch of garlic and herb butter, chicken broth, celery root, garlic and sea salt with fresh cracked pepper and a dash of milk.) I am adding more mashed veggies.

    Other than that, not a lot changes...I never eat a lot on T-Day because I get so involved cooking that I am just not hungry at the end of the process. I end up having a small plate of turkey and dressing, lots of veggies and some potatoes with gravy and a roll.

    For dessert tho I am making my pumpkin pie. That gets no changes and I will enjoy it... and I figure with the sweet potatoes and pumpkin it is not so bad for me even with the sugar in it. Not that there is a ton...the pie filling is sweet enough from the sweets and the pumpkin to need a lot of sweetener.
  • wjniii
    wjniii Posts: 110 Member
    I'm going to eat a bit of everything but try to keep the size of the portions down. I'm not going to worry about it for the one day. Like a lot of others have said, I will just try to even out this "bad" day with upping my exercise and lowering my calories for the rest of the week.
  • fldiver97
    fldiver97 Posts: 341 Member
    light breakfast, 5 K race in the morning. Light lunch, walk the dog.....then my 'ususal' non-traditional Thanksgiving meal (no turkey, no gravy, no cranberry sause - don't like those plus I am vegetarian :tongue: ). Whatever I will eat will be a bit on the healthier side and not really be a problem so to speak. I will have some red wine, will have some kind of desert. I will not fret over the calories but will log and just see where I am at. If I am over so be it..... :drinker:
  • jigglewiggles
    jigglewiggles Posts: 173 Member
    1. Exercise in the morning
    2. Eat light breakfast and lunch
    3. Drink a LOT of water
    4. Eat a large salad before dinner
    5. Use a 1/4 c. measuring cup to measure the fatty side items
    6. Limit my meats to only 2 slices, bread or rolls to 1 piece
    7. Fill my plate with mostly the healthy stuff
    8. Don't go back for seconds
    9. Make a low cal sweet potato pie, and have one slice for dessert.

    I think I should be pretty full from all that, and hopefully won't go over my calories too much. By using a 1/4 c. measure, I get a nice taste of everything, but not too much I think.

Categories