Well, summer is over and now we are moving into the romance of fall.  The desire for warm foods is starting to kick in as the cooler weather is upon us.  Thanksgiving is such a lovely family and food filled holiday.  Just because there can be lots of food involved, it doesn’t mean there has to be a gluttony of poor choices.  By adding in more fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and spices you can elevate your weekend into a health supporting event.  Here are a few easy tips:

Tip #1:

Have light appetizers like veggies and hummus or roasted beet dip to avoid being famished for dinner which can cause us to eat quickly and eat past our 80% full limit.

Tip #2

Make veggies the hero in your meals!

When you look at your plate, for any meal, not just thanksgiving dinner, it should be split into 1/2 veggies (non-starch like Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, salad, etc.), 1/4 protein, and 1/4 starches (grains, beans, and starchy veggies like sweet potatoes, beets, etc).  Add to that 1 to 2 tablespoons of healthy fats (extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, nuts and seeds, grass fed butter).  Great non-starch veggie options are Brussel sprouts roasted with balsamic vinegar and for the starchy veggies an option is roasted sweet potatoes and beets which are incredible with grass fed butter and unrefined salt.  Great nutrient, fibre and fat content. 

Tip #3

When it comes to dessert, aim to have it with a small amount of fibre, protein or healthy fat to lessen its blood sugar impact.   Having a dessert that has cinnamon can also  help regular blood sugar.  Pumpkin is a great choice due to its nutrient and fibre content.  There are a number delicious healthy pumpkin recipes that have simple crusts and you can control the sugar and quality of ingredients.

Eat slowly, enjoy each bite and moment.  Savour the time and the conversation with friends and family.  And enjoy dessert!  A little walk in the evening once you’ve digested is a great way to end the day.  Happy Thanksgiving!