Tips for Turkey Day

"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence." - Erma Bombeck

Tips for Turkey Day...

Americans consume around 18lbs of turkey each year, much of it during the Thansgiving and Christmas holidays. The average American packs away 4500cal, which is about twice their daily consumption.

Thanksgiving is about family, giving thanks for the blessings we receive, and the food. Here are some tips to enjoy the day without over-doing it:

1) Get some exercise in the morning - go for a walk or a bike ride. The exercise will help to jumpstart your metabolism in preparation for the big meal.

2) Eat breakfast - most people skip breakfast, wanting to save room for the turkey and trimmings. This leads to over-eating and uncomfortable feelings later in the day. A bagel or bowl of cereal, or even a piece of fruit would help.

3) Have an appetizer - have some appetizers but don't gorge yourself on them. My family tends to go overboard in the appetizer area, so try to limit yourself.

4) Try a little of everything - don't fill up your plate with mounds of turkey and stuffing or mashed potatoes. Put a little of everything on your plate and ENJOY the food.

5) Wait on going for seconds - give your stomach time to process what you've already eaten. This will hopefully cut down on the bloating and nausea caused by over-eating. Remember, leftover turkey and stuffing is better the second day!

Enjoy the day, but don't make gorging on the food your primary focus...

"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends." - Ralph Waldo Emerson