Emma Ryan

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Thanksgiving done well.

Hi friends!

With Thanksgiving being 2 weeks away, I am getting all kinds of questions like, “Well, what do you do for Thanksgiving?” or “How do I stay on track and not feel miserable while also partaking in Thanksgiving festivities?”

These are slightly difficult questions to answer if you ask me - because how to make good choices on Thanksgiving may differ from person to person depending on what kind of festivities they are talking about.

So, I’ll give some ideas here and you can take what you want and leave what you don’t.

However, before I get too far into this - keep is mind that Thanksgiving is just one meal (or maybe two if you travel to different families homes). Just because Thanksgiving is known for stuffing your face and taking a nap on the couch and then hitting the repeat button doesn’t mean you have to eat three plates full at each home you visit. Thanksgiving can simply be one meal. You don’t have to eat leftovers for the following 3 days and feel crappy after. How you perceive and treat Thanksgiving is completely your choice.

So, let’s talk about some healthy tips leading up to Thanksgiving.

  1. Hydrate - drink plenty of water to ensure that your hunger is true hunger and that you aren’t dehydrated. This will also help flush the toxins out of your body at a faster rate and keep your energy up.

  2. Do something active - Start off Thanksgiving being thankful for your body. I love to start the day running in my local Turkey Trot or by simply taking a long walk with my dog.

  3. Give yourself some grace - Enjoy yourself, enjoy your company, enjoy the food, and just be grateful to be here for the experience of life. Don’t sit at the table and judge the food around you and the people who are eating it. It is completely okay to live in the moment and eat a little more sugar than you normally do.

  4. Keep Thanksgiving to one meal - If you’re cooking - give away the leftovers. Just because you allowed yourself to indulge with your family and friends doesn’t mean you need to continue to eat all of the rolls and pie you want all week long.

  5. Make healthy options - Thanksgiving done well is all about good food and good company. See my recipe options below and be sure to have healthy options on-hand.

Now, let’s talk food!

I love me some traditional Thanksgiving classics, but I also enjoy switching it up and surprising my family with something different.

Some of my Thanksgiving favorites include the following:

  1. Lentil Loaf

  2. Lentil Chili

  3. Cornbread

  4. Butternut Squash and Arugula Salad

  5. Butternut Squash Soup

  6. Spiced Chickpea Soup

  7. No-Pumpkin Pie

No matter what you plan on doing this holiday- I encourage you to spread the love of healthy living. There is someone out there watching you - and you could be the one that inspires them.

If you need more ideas or have questions - you know where to find me! Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Happy Fall!

xo

Emma