People often use the holidays as an excuse to overindulge. Holiday travel and stress can take a toll on your emotional reserves and leave little willpower left to make healthy choices at the table. It is possible to survive Turkey Day without the excess though, and making a conscious effort to start the holiday season off with healthy choices can leave you lighter and with less regret come the New Year.
It may not seem like it can make a difference, but small tweaks to your recipes can really add up. Try cutting the sugar in your sweet potato casserole or pumpkin pie recipe in half—you really won’t notice the difference. Season your food with fresh herbs and spices and olive oil, which are all heart-healthy choices, instead of butter and salt and sugar. Help yourself to the turkey and veggies and serve yourself smaller portions of the buttery, starchy and fatty sides. There will be leftovers, so eat in moderation and then enjoy your favorites again the next day, in moderation!
Build a little extra movement into your day. Get up early and go for a run, walk or bike ride. After your big meal, toss a football around in the yard or shoot some hoops with the kids. Research has even found that exercising after a high fat meal can help lower triglyceride levels. Every little bit counts!
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