Top Three Ways to Cut Back this Thanksgiving and Still Enjoy the Food

Native Americans and Pilgrims on Thanksgiving

Enjoy Thanksgiving - in Moderation

Thanksgiving is a time to think about how fortunate we are and to give thanks for our bounty.  But as the holiday has evolved from an agricultural giving of thanks for sun, rain, and grain to mass-produced food products we buy off the grocery store shelf, Americans have developed a tendency to over-eat on turkey day.  To make matters worse, much of what we now consider to be traditional Thanksgiving food is not exactly healthy.
My grandmother, MooMoo, put about a pound of butter in everything she made on holidays.  Not that I'm picking on MooMoo.  In her day, meat and dairy made up the foundation of any healthy diet.  And I will admit, I always looked forward to MooMoo's turkey stuffing every year.  My mom's chocolate pie is something I am still looking forward to.  Though delicious, Thanksgiving food can be a double-whammy on your body because you eat so much.  This results in what many refer to as a "food coma."

Three Ways to Prevent Overeating this Thanksgiving

Enjoy Thanksgiving, but consider cutting back a bit with these three tips:

• Eat slowly.  The faster you eat, the more you eat.  Take it slow and give your body time to feel full.  Or else you'll stuff yourself like a turkey.  Next thing you know you'll be asking someone to carry you out in a wheelbarrow!
• Choose more vegetables than meat.  You only have so much space on your plate (thank goodness), so try to stick with 80% vegetable-based dishes and 20% meat dishes to fill up on fewer calories and possibly avoid overloading on cholesterol.
• Limit yourself to one plate.  Okay, one plate plus dessert.  But no more.  At least, not for several hours until you've given yourself time to digest the first serving.