SavvyHealthGirl's Blog

Wishing everyone a wonderful, happy and healthy Thanksgiving. While we should be thankful and grateful every day, I really love taking time one day out of the year to spend time with family and friends, and sharing with them why we are grateful to have them in our lives. So on this day, take time to tell your loved ones at least one thing, one reason why you are thankful for them, Trust me, this will make their day and make them smile.

To help you get through this year’s Thanksgiving, enjoy the 2010 Dos and Don’ts for Thanksgiving. 

Live Life, Live Healthy!

Well it’s that time of year again – time for my annual Turkey Day tips! It was two years ago this week when I launched the blog and my first post was about how you can eat healthy and stay active during the Thanksgiving holiday. So why break a tradition?  I hope you enjoy this year’s tips and can apply them somehow over the next week. Like I always say, enjoy the yummy food but in moderation.

Well, this year I am going old school, I am actually road-tripping to Memphis, TN for the holiday and for a girlfriend’s wedding over the weekend. It’s a 13-hour car ride from DC to Memphis. I am trying not to think about that considering I start squirming after 3 hours on a 5-hour flight to LA.  But when you wait too late to book your flight, this is what happens. So off we go!  In honor of my road trip this year, here are tips for all of the car travelers.

Pack your own healthy snacks. While it is tempting to stop for food off of the highway, you have to remember you will rarely run into healthy options. You are going to primarily run into a Burger King, Arby’s, McDonald’s, or Cinnabon. So do your body and your wallet a favor and bring your own snacks/meals.  Stop at your local grocery store and pick up apples, granola mix, cheese, ready-made meals from the deli (not the frozen section) or whatever you like. And sure we all want some hot food on a chilly, Fall day, especially in a car. Pack up some chili or stew and store it in a thermal container.

Choose healthier options from fast food stops. If you must eat off of the side of the road, then try to resist the Super Size, double cheeseburger, fries and Chocolate Frosty. Grab a salad or the broiled options opposed to the fried options. If you have time to stop and sit down to eat, there is always an IHOP or full service restaurant along the way. They tend to have more options that are healthy than fast food places.

Stick to regular eating habits and times. I don’t know about you but when I am in a car for a long period of time, I tend to eat more than usual. A snack here, a meal there, another snack here. Before you know it all of the cookies are gone and the chips are next. Resist overeating. If you are bored, get a book you have been wanting to read or do a puzzle. Often when we don’t have anything to do, our impulse is to stuff our mouths.

Take stretch breaks. All of that sitting and eating can’t be good, especially if you are going the fast food route. Make a point to stop and get those limbs moving. Do some stretches, park the car and walk around the gas station lot or do a quick race with the kids. Quick sprints tend to burn calories faster anyway. On your mark, get ready, get set, GO!!!

To those of you traveling by plane or train, you can definitely apply many of these tips. Airports don’t have the healthiest options of food either, especially in the smaller airports. Regardless of how you are traveling this year, remember to keep it healthy. Eat in moderation and don’t remain too sedentary over the next four days. Enjoy this time with your family and friends and cherish every moment!

Happy Thanksigiving!

Yes ladies (and the few gentlemen who check out this blog), it’s that time of year again — the holidays! I know we dread them and love them all at the same time. Why must we torture ourselves every year? We know we always go back for seconds for macaroni and cheese, and oh it’s so hard to pass up the sweet potato souffle. Wait, were those homemade rolls behind the cranberry sauce? Are these pants elastic? The torture of eating healthy over the holidays is a neverending saga. Why? Because the day after Thanksgiving we vow we won’t do this again for Christmas, etc. But we do! Then comes the New Year and our first resolution is ” I will eat healthier” and the second is “I will work out more.”

Too much turkey

Come on ladies, this year we are really going to commit to not being as stuffed as the turkey. We must be strong and not allow ourselves to eat so much that not only have we unbottuned the jeans or pants, but we pulled out the shirt and have begun doing breathing exercises to help us get up from the table. Oh no, not this year! This year will be different, we will wear big sweaters and “Not your Daugther’s Jeans” so we have MORE room for the food. Just kidding!!! Although the jeans are pretty cute, we must take control and make just a few changes. Here are a few of my suggestions for surviving TG this year:

Eat breakfast- Always on my list for the holidays, because I believe if you don’t starve yourself for TG dinner, then you won’t try to eat everything that you see. By eating something during the day will prevent you from eating so much at dinner. It’s also a great time to bond with those family members who have come in town before the day is hectic and filled with tons of kids, aunts, uncles and family friends. Also, you still like each other at this point. No one has argued yet over that “thing” that happened 5 years ago. It’s a happy time!

Everything in moderation – Have the food you want, you only get it once or twice or year. But eat in smaller portions. Don’t pile your plate up. We tend to get so excited when we see all of the delicious food in front of our eyes, that we fill up our plates. Ever heard the saying “Your eyes were bigger than your stomach?” We never eat all of that food anyway and it gets wasted. Try using a smaller plate or getting just a little bit of those things you love most. It is okay to return for seconds, but try adding more veggies or grains on that second trip.  This way you can save room for dessert and not feel too guilty.

Put down the bread – Well maybe one roll, okay two! Watch your intake of the heavy starches like bread, mashed potatoes (white potatoes), and macaroni and cheese (which I LOVE). Balance these options with more vegetables. I love, love, love macaroni and cheese, but I know if I eat too much, I feel bloated and just sluggish. So I started eating a little bit during TG dinner, then will take some home so I can enjoy it later. I am still eating what I love, just in moderation. Plus, if you like leftovers like me, they taste better the second day anyway.

Whatever you decide to do this year to survive overeating, just remember you have to be able to get up from table. Keep that in mind as you make your second plate. There is nothing more unattractive than having to be rolled out of a chair because you ate too much and now you can’t move. Not to mention that now your muffin top you have been saying you are getting rid of since last TG, has a twin. Just some images to keep you in line.

Have a wonderful holiday, enjoy this time with family and everything in moderation!

So it’s the day before Thanksgiving and my plan was to go and workout at 6:00 a.m. but that didn’t exactly go as planned. As a matter of fact I never made it to the gym. But as a replacement I did walk up all of the escalator stairs when I got off the train this morning. In 3″ heels! Hey, that has to count for something. I am trying to get in some extra activity today, as Turkey Day quickly approaches. I am also trying to keep in perspective what I will eat tomorrow. If you are really trying to be healthy, have you ever really thought how hard that it is to do, the day before a feast? To consciously remind yourself not to overindulge on the yummy food that is going to be placed in front of you? The candied yams/sweet potatoes, collard greens, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, macaroni and cheese (my ultimate favorite) and oh we must not forget Grandma’s homemade rolls dripping with butter!! Oh now you all know that is so hard to do!! But we know it can be done. Right? I can’t hear you! That’s better. So what do we do? How do we resist the temptation of overindulging and still enjoy? Well, I am not a physician nor a nutritionist, but my expertise is in health. I would like to share my personal tips for Turkey Day or any feast. Don’t worry I am going to keep it real!

· Eat breakfast and make sure it has a good amount of protein. This is good for everyone, but especially if you have an early meal time. This will help you curb the desire to eat more than you should because you haven’t starved yourself. So often, we think we have to save up for the big feast and won’t eat anything all day. So not a good idea. All it’s doing is keeping you hungry, low on energy and cranky because you didn’t eat. Who is going to want to sit next to you during dinner?

· Have a couple of small meals/snacks if you are having a late afternoon meal. Again, it will prevent you from going crazy when the mashed potatoes and gravy hit the table. An apple with peanut butter or even a sandwich with some of that freshly carved turkey will keep you satiated until dinner time. That is, if you are allowed to have some of the turkey.

· Attempt to burn some extra calories while waiting for the feast. Go for a walk with a loved one and catch up since they may only be in town for a few days. This a great time for fellowship and to be active as a family.

· Ready to eat? Start slowly and take small portions of food. Remember the saying ” Your eyes are bigger than your stomach?” Keep that in mind. There is nothing wrong with tasting everything, just keep it in moderation. Use a small plate if it will help you from piling food on. You will be surprised how content you will feel and how great it will be not to have that overstuffed feeling. You know kind of like a stuffed turkey! Then you won’t feel so guilty about having that slice of sweet potato pie!

- If all else fails and you get caught up in the wonderful display and aroma of all of the food and lose your mind. Not to worry, there is only one thing to do, put your fork down and . . . STEP AWAY FROM THE TABLE!!! Breathe, rub your ears and say Woosahh! Then try making your plate again with about 3 scoops less of the mac and cheese.

The bottom line is, it’s okay to indulge a little, just don’t over do it. Thanksgiving is about fellowship, gratitude and sharing. And there is something about food, really good food and preparing food that brings all of these together. So enjoy the day in a healthy way!