Try These 3 Healthy Habits This Thanksgiving
Try These 3 Healthy Habits This Thanksgiving
How to enjoy your Thanksgiving and still feel confident about your health journey.
With Thanksgiving coming up it’s important that we enjoy ourselves. Family, friends, and food are something to give thanks for; we can’t do that if we’re counting every calorie and feeling bad about what we eat!
Instead, try this Thanksgiving approach that I’ve found to be helpful during the long weekend.
Thanksgiving 3-2-1
3 Non-Food Tips – 2 Food Tips – 1 Gratitude Tip
3 Non-Food Tips
1. Stay Hydrated.
If you’re not in the habit of drinking water throughout the day, set an alarm on your phone as a reminder. A good number to shoot for is roughly 4-6 glasses of H20. Each time you hear that alarm and drink your H20 stack on the practice of texting a loved one to let them know that you are thankful for them.
2. Stay Active
Make a plan with a family member or friend to meet for a Thanksgiving day walk. Have some friendly competition with a loved one by tracking your steps on Thanksgiving day and mapping out a prize for the winner.
Sidenote: Don’t have a smartwatch to track steps? No problem, this free app you can download on your phone to track those steps.
3. Get Plenty Of Sleep On Thanksgiving Eve.
It’s simple—exhaustion puts you at risk for extra hunger and cravings.
Set a bedtime that will offer you 8 hours of sleep. If you’re feeling anxious about all you need to do to prepare for Thanksgiving, grab a pen and paper and write it all down before your head hits the pillow. Getting things out of your brain and on paper for safekeeping can free you from insomnia.
Also, consider stopping drinking caffeinated beverages by late afternoon and letting go of your screens 30 minutes before bed.
2 Food Tips
1. Rethink Your Thanksgiving Plate
Fill your Thanksgiving dinner plate as so—50% veggies and green stuff, 25% turkey, 25% yummy side dishes, and dessert.
2. Start The Day With Nutrient Dense Fuel
If your Thanksgiving dinner takes place in the afternoon or evening, consider eating a healthy breakfast. Try incorporating some protein like eggs, yogurt, or a protein smoothie. Have some fiber as it will keep you full throughout the day.
Click here for my favorite protein smoothie recipe.
1 Gratitude Tip
1. Set “Thankfulness” As your Intention.
Get creative with this part! Start the day with reflection. Make a list of 25 people, places, things, or experiences you want to express gratitude for. Share gratitude with each person you come in contact with on Thanksgiving day.
Gratitude is an amazing thing, it can curb stress and help make this weekend one filled with peace.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
I encourage you to give these a try and watch what happens—you might just have one of the most memorable Thanksgiving experiences of your life!