What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Does your mom make the world’s best pumpkin pie? Or are you a fan of green bean casserole? Despite what you may have heard, you don’t have to choose between enjoying these tasty foods and making healthy choices. The key is moderation. When dishing up your plate, remember to take small portions. This will let you try a variety of foods without eating too much. It can be tempting to load up on delicious starches such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, cornbread, or dinner rolls. But try to choose just one or two instead of sampling all of them.
It is also important not to skip breakfast or lunch beforehand. This seems like a way to “save up” for the big meal, but it actually makes you more likely to overeat. Moderation works in the long run, too. Eating a few extra calories on Thanksgiving won’t affect you too much if you have a healthy diet during the rest of the year.
Read more about making healthful food choices and see a sample serving of Thanksgiving dinner.