A healthy meal on Thanksgiving

 

Gaining weight during the holiday season is pretty common. But for someone with an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, an extra pound on the scale is not the only problem because inflammation worsens with weight gain.

Thanksgiving does not have to sabotage your weight. With a little preparation, you can satisfy your craving for traditional favorites while still enjoying a guilt-free Thanksgiving feast.

Prepare your recipes healthier with less fat, sugar, gluten, and dairy. There are more sugar and fat in most recipes than is needed, and no one will notice the difference if you skim calories by using lower calories, avoid gluten, and leverage dairy-free ingredients.

Try using fat-free chicken broth to baste the turkey and make gravy (or prepare a turkey with no gravy at all). Use sugar substitutes (xylitol or stevia) in place of sugar or replace them with fruit purees; choose oils in baked goods rich in OMEGA 3. Try vegetable milk in creamy dips, mashed potatoes, and casseroles. And you can always add more vegetables, like pumpkin, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower to your meal, as well.

Mind your portions. Before you fill your plate, scan the buffet table, and decide what you’re going to choose. Then select reasonable-sized amounts of foods you love.

Don’t waste your calories on foods that you can have all year long. Fill your plate with small portions of holiday favorites that only come around once a year so you can enjoy popular, traditional foods.

Skip the seconds. Try to resist the temptation to go back for second servings. Leftovers are much better the next day. If you limit yourself to one plate, you are less likely to overeat and have more room for a delectable dessert.

Go easy on drinks. Don’t forget that alcohol is an inflammation booster. Have a glass of wine, and between alcoholic beverages, enjoy sparkling water with some lemon. This way, you stay hydrated, limit alcohol consumption, and will feel better the next day!

You can find some healthy recipes for your Thanksgiving meal here!

 

Source: https://www.medicalwesthospital.org/9-tips-for-a-healthy-thanksgiving.php

1 Like