The piece de resistance of the Thanksgiving holiday is, of course, its monumental feast. As plates quickly pile high with stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and turkey legs, though, the calorie counts skyrocket with each scoop. For those who need to stay healthy during this epic meal, here are some ways to keep your tummy happy without a scolding from your family medicine provider at your next visit.

Tips to Eat Well This Thanksgiving

1. Eat Before Dinner

While it’s a general Thanksgiving mentality to show up to the dinner table ravenously hungry, family medicine providers recommend eating breakfast and lunch that day. Skipping the other two meals of the day will only feed the temptation to overindulge once you’re facing plate after plate of delicious Turkey Day fare. 

2. Pile High the Veggies

Vegetables are an obvious heart-healthy choice in the dinner spread—from green beans to carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes. While they usually manifest themselves in casseroles on this fated day, a surplus of vitamins and minerals at the heart of the dish readily counterbalance the calories. 

3. Opt for Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Canned cranberry sauce is a crowd favorite at Thanksgiving, usually due to the unhealthy simple sugars that dominate the tart flavor of this berry. If you have the option of a homemade recipe that uses real cranberries, which can boost your immune system, improve digestion, and reduce bad cholesterol, your family medicine provider would suggest that you go for a scoop of that instead. 

4. Choose White Meat

Dark meat and turkey skin have intense levels of saturated fat and cholesterol. White meat will still contribute to your turkey coma, just with fewer implications to your heart health after dinner. 

5. Practice Moderation

Like with any meal, having a well-balanced plate of food will assure you’re making healthy choices. When faced with a mountain of mashed potatoes and boats of gravy, this mentality is easier said than done, but with discipline, you can still have your pie and eat it too. In this case, though, your family medicine provider would suggest just having one slice instead of three.

Tis the season for feasts and spreads of desserts galore, but keeping your health in check in the midst of the holiday madness should be a top priority. The providers at Hillside Family Medicine believe that health complications like diabetes or heart problems shouldn’t stop you from eating a good Thanksgiving meal with your friends and family. With strategies like 24-hour blood pressure monitoring machines, this Anchorage, AK, team can guide you to make smart health choices and find ways to steer you in the right direction if you veer from the recommended plan for your health needs. For more information about their practice and the services they offer, call (907) 344-0200 or visit their website.