>Plan a Healthy Thanksgiving Meal

If you’re in charge of dinner or helping to plan, keep these tips in mind:

1) Schedule the meal earlier in the day. Having the big meal at noon or 2 PM will give your body time to digest it before bedtime. Also, if you’ve finished dinner before dark you can go outdoors for some fresh air and possibly a walk.

2) Serve small dishes every hour or so. Another suggestion, turn Thanksgiving into an all- day celebration this will spread the calories out throughout the day and you’ll be less likely to feel awful.

3) Take very small portions. As you fill your plate, remember there are typically a lot more dishes on the table to choose from compared to your ordinary meal. With this in mind, take very small portions. Treat dinner as you would a wine tasting…you TASTE each wine; you do not drink a whole glass of each wine.

4) Minimize the carb overload. Instead of preparing sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing and rolls choose only one or two of these dishes. It will save a ton of calories and you’ll feel less ‘stuffed!’ (pun intended!)

5) Serve appetizers. Prior to the main meal serve a colorful vegetable platter, delicious soup and/or a beautiful salad.

6) Serve lots of vegetables. Offer two or three different types of vegetables at the table (and they don’t have to be heavy-duty casseroles…just simple steamed vegetables).

7) Drink water. Set out water glasses for everyone with dinner.