Thanksgiving Survival Strategies

I don't think the food itself is the problem, I think it's the culture of stuffing ourselves silly that's come to be associated with this holiday. As I've "re-trained" my brain around food issues over the past couple of years, this meal won't be any different than any other. Moderate portions, balance things out with some exercise.

I plan to enjoy the day (or, in my case the 3 day span of a different Holiday party each day) and to eat in moderation. Years past I would eat a big plate full, then get seconds, then have one of each dessert. This year the plan is one plate that is heavy on the veg with ONE dessert, and once I'm full, I'll stop eating. Also, not having 3-4 servings of bread/buns, I seriously would eat 1000 calories in crescent rolls, this year I'll have 1, and then be done.

I don't plan on weighing food out, though, my logging will be guesstimating. I am planning on a good workout each day. As long as I stay within maintenance, I'm not concerned. Thanksgiving comes around once a year.

Edit to add: I will be out of state for the entire weekend (Wed - Sun), and I already have a workout plan. Both my parent's house and my in-laws have an elliptical in the basement, my cold weather running gear (because it will be Minnesota) and my set of resistance bands are coming with too. I am confident that I can get a good combination of strength and cardio training done, even with the travel.

Thanksgiving is at my house and I'm cooking most of the meal. Holiday's are the time I get to try all those recipes I wouldn't make for just the 5 of us at home, you need 20 people to split it! I'll make all the foods we love knowing it's just 1 day. I'll just not go back for seconds (or thirds, darn you sweet potato souffle!). I'll make sure to save room for dessert (my favorite part) not try and stuff it in on top of all the other food I ate. I'll do a workout before everyone wakes up so I'll feel better about that whip cream on top of the pumpkin pie. I'm usually exhausted by the end of hosting a holiday, so all that cooking, clean up, prep, and making sure everyone has everything they need has to be a good workout

Here's a fun little link to add up Thanksgiving calories (not sure how accurate it is, though)...

http://walking.about.com/library/cal/blthanksgivingcalories.htm

But I plan to go with light eating throughout the day, and enjoy my Thanksgiving dinner with moderate portions. Then back to the grind the next day.

I'm Canadian, we already had our thanksgiving last month. I have taken over the cooking from my mom, 1) because she's 55 now and needs a break, 2) I like to cook and 3) I know what's going into the food I'm making. This year, I winged it and did pretty good. I had purchased 2 pies for desert with frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. I know everyone talks aobut the "desert" so I figured I'd attack that one first. However, the year before, I got a recipe for a coconut cream pie that was out of this world and all 'natural' foods - no processed sugar. If anyone wants the recipe - message me.

I also made a quinoa stuffing that was deliscious instead of with bread - this year, I made it with bread - whole wheat (never EVER WHITE!) and had maybe a tablespoon. I never put anything but seasoning on my turkey. For added flavour, I always put chicken stock at the bottom. I also roasted broccoli and cauliflower with coconut oil, s/p, garlic and thyme. If I do mashed potatoes, I use Greek Yogurt and maybe almond milk (if I need it) and I add s/p. However, I tend to prefer carrots and sweet potatoes in with the turkey itself.

I work my way around my family and 'inconvinience' myself to make sure I'm getting the right foods.

I forgot to add... cranberry sauce, my family doesn't enjoy it so I skipped it this year, but I made it last year - homemade it's SO EASY... Orange Juice and Cranberries. that's it.

As far as the sweets and pies go, I don't really care for them, so that's never an issue. I have a rule (have had since I was about 10 years old lol) that on big eating holidays, I leave enough room on my plate so that none of the different foods touch each other. It's my way of making sure I don't eat myself sick but still get to have everything I want lol.

As far as counting calories go. I don't both on holidays. It's 1 day a year. It's not going to kill me or make me gain 100 lbs.

Oh lord, Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the most food-filled holidays in my family. I look forward to Thanksgiving, though, because of the leftovers. I plan on saving up some calories in the days leading up to it. We don't eat breakfast or lunch on Thanksgiving day to prepare. I volunteered to bring the salad this year and I plan on covering my plate in salad and TURKEY TURKEY TURKEY. We also plan on hitting the gym to show our thanks for having such an awesome gym.

I love taking home leftovers because of the creativity that comes with it. One year I made potato and turkey pancakes. Sounds weird but was pretty good. Potato, chopped turkey, and egg white to hold it all together! Turkey and eggs is probably our most common dinner after thanksgiving and my Love takes ham sandwiches to work.

blktngldhrt wrote: »

I have two dinners to attend..so I'll probably swap my big breakfast for a big dinner. I'm also going to make a sugar free dessert to take with me for my diabetic aunt and my hypoglycemic self. I can't have stuffing, cranberry sauce, or mashed potatoes anyway so I should be fine. I won't be weighing my food. Thursday isn't a rest day so I'll have exercise calories to eat as a buffer.

If you're making sugar free dessert....make your aunt some no sugar added cranberry sauce too.

Homemade cranberry sauce is really easy. 1 Bag of fresh cranberries, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of Splenda. Throw into a medium sauce pan and boil a couple of minutes....done. If you want to get fancy, spices (cinnamon & ginger) are a nice touch.

Strain it if you want the jellied stuff.

TeaBea wrote: »

blktngldhrt wrote: »

I have two dinners to attend..so I'll probably swap my big breakfast for a big dinner. I'm also going to make a sugar free dessert to take with me for my diabetic aunt and my hypoglycemic self. I can't have stuffing, cranberry sauce, or mashed potatoes anyway so I should be fine. I won't be weighing my food. Thursday isn't a rest day so I'll have exercise calories to eat as a buffer.

If you're making sugar free dessert....make your aunt some no sugar added cranberry sauce too.

Homemade cranberry sauce is really easy. Bag of fresh cranberries, 1 cup of water, 1 cup of Splenda. Throw into a medium sauce pan and boil a couple of minutes....done.

Strain it if you want the jellied stuff.

Add some orange zest and juice of an orange as well as cinnamon sticks - makes it WAY better.... I never used to like cranberry sauce because my family always just served it out straight out of the can. One year I volunteered to try to make it from scratch and it is so much better, and really not difficult at all!