My Thanksgiving Game Plan

I will wake up the day after Thanksgiving feeling grateful for the time spent with my family, and not feeling like I need to buy bigger pants. I will enjoy the food I do eat, and not feel deprived. The secret to my success? I know exactly what I’m eating that day.

Thanksgiving is a sentimental holiday and we tend to prepare and eat the same foods each year. Based on that, I know what I’ll eat and what I’ll skip.

Our Thanksgiving is a big Italian feast. A challenge to be sure, but I don’t deprive myself. I know I’ll enjoy Liz’ eggplant rollatini, and skip the dried sausage and cheeses. I’ll have some ravioli and a meatball, but skip the rest of the meat in the sauce. I’ll have the turkey, stuffing and green beans, but skip the sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes (while they are vegetables, at Thanksgiving they have enough fat in them to make them a dessert!) I’ll have the citrus compote I’m bringing, plus a small slice of pumpkin pie, but skip the cannoli.

And the morning after Thanksgiving, I’ll be at my personal trainer’s studio.

Here’s what else I’m doing to get through the holidays:

• More exercise: I’ve been working out every day to burn more calories. Sometimes it’s as simple as walking to the train or talking the stairs, and it all counts.
• Responsible eating: This time of year I focus on getting my protein from beans, tofu, and some fish rather than meat. This saves me calories and fat, and is an easy way to manage my weight. I know exactly when I’ll enjoy meat between now and the end of December: Thanksgiving, my brother’s birthday, a dinner in NYC, and Christmas dinner. That’s it.
• More sleep: The better I sleep, the better I feel. My appetite hormones are balanced so I’m not unusually hungry, and I’m not likely to eat to keep myself awake or out of stress. I will turn down evening invitations specifically so I can go to bed early.
• Plenty of water: While I’m a good water drinker normally, this time of year I really ramp it up. It keeps me feeling energized.

Happy Thanksgiving wishes to you and your family!

Lisa Corrado of Lisa Corrado Nutrition is a stellar chef and nutritionist. She is on a mission to help busy people eat healthier. Lisa offers nutritional counseling and coaching to help you cook and plan better meals. Check out her blog, A Moment in a Busy Life, which takes you on a healthy journey through good food and great choices.