Avoid Thanksgiving Weight Gain

For many folks, Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a season of food. And that can mean packing on the pounds, too!

If you feel a little bit heavier after eating Thanksgiving dinner, you're not alone. According to some research, the average Thanksgiving meal is a whopping 3,000 calories. Nibble your way through some leftovers, and you could be consuming more than 4,000 calories in one day! For most folks, that's twice as many calories as you should be eating on a daily basis.

But that turkey doesn't have to go to your waistline! Try these tips and you'll walk away from Thanksgiving feeling slim and trim:

Take control of the kitchen: Are you responsible for cooking most of the Thanksgiving meal? If so, revise some of your recipes so they're healthier. Sweet potatoes, for example, don't have to be candied. They're just as tasty baked. If you usually add sour cream to your mashed potatoes, skip in it favor of a little skim milk. All it takes is a few adjustments to your recipes to cut hundreds of calories from the meal, and your family will barely notice the difference.

Bring a dish: Is someone else hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? Ensure you have a few low-calorie choices by offering to bring some dishes. Bring some vegetables with light butter spray, or baked a healthier rice casserole. You'll look like a thoughtful guest, and you'll know that at least some of the menu items will be healthy.

Eat breakfast: You might want to skip breakfast since you know a big meal is part of the day. But if you do so, you'll sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with a huge appetite. It's actually smarter to have a small snack - like an apple and some peanut butter - a few hours before the meal so you aren't completely ravenous.

Pick your favorites: Maybe Aunt Theresa's stuffing is the best you've ever tasted, and she only makes it for Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps Uncle Bob bakes the best bread in town. Pick the dishes that you only get once a year, and skip the foods that you eat all year long. If mashed potatoes are a frequent menu item in your house, for example, leave them off your plate for this meal.

Take a break: It takes about twenty minutes for your brain to realize you're full. Serve yourself up one plate of your favorite items and eat it slowly. Focus on savoring the company of your loved ones, rather than shoveling in the food as quickly as possible. After you finish one plate, commit to waiting at least ten minutes before having a second helping. You may discover you don't really want another portion at all.

Make exercise part of the day: Why zone out in front of the television? Turn off the football game and get your family involved in a game of their own! Play some touch football, basketball or even Tag. Any activity that gets everyone moving will help burn calories.

You don't have to gain weight during your Thanksgiving dinner! Just stay conscious of the food you're eating, remember to make smart choices and focus on your family instead of the food.