Welcome to Part 1 of our Thanksgiving and Fall Season Guide! Your recipes will follow in Part 2. In Part 3 I’m going to add some extra recipes that all include pumpkin or pumpkin spice and can be enjoyed throughout the Fall Season!

DAMY Health Guide – Tips, Tricks, and Recipes to a Healthy Thanksgiving

I don’t know about you but the memories of this day for me are the smell of fresh cool air, leaves on the ground, family all in each others space, at least one argument (one of the best being a massive food fight… but I won’t go there), and, above all, copious amounts of food. Oh the smell of spices… eating to the point that the only cure is a nap… and finally, more food. Now after eating like this you feel heavy, tried and have instant regret. We have all experienced this (some of us for years) and we treat these situations as if we have no control. It’s like the force of delicious home cooked food has a hold on us too great to stop before we feel sick.

This year I challenge you to experience the holiday seasons differently. Start with Thanksgiving (for my Canadian loves) followed by Halloween. I want you to get your power back or, for some of you, experience it for the first time. I want you all to feel the satisfaction of sticking to your goals. Just make it through this first holiday and you will see you can trust yourself and learn you are the one in the driver’s seat of your life. What I am going to ask you to do for this Thanksgiving is simple… plan ahead. Write it down. Here are some quick tips. Write these out yourself in your journal and commit to them!

If you are having dinner at your house:

What a treat for you! I have you totally covered! See below for every recipe you could ever want for your holiday meal. These recipes are twists of the old classics. They are fantastic! They boast flavor and no one will even know they are “healthy.” Set the example of health for your family this season!

Going to dinner:

Bring a couple healthy dishes! Everyone loves a guest that brings goodies! Bring something listed below. Spread the love of health. Everyone benefits from it.

Before you go to dinner do your workout, drink your recommended daily water, and have a small snack. Have some protein and/or some fat (ex. almonds, chicken, protein shake).

Give yourself a pep talk. Doing this in my journal works best for me. Do this the day before you go. Write out your game plan. Write the steps you are going to take to stay on track, how proud you will feel after that you stuck to your plan, and outline the walk you are going to have after! Write it all out.

No matter where you have your dinner (follow these simple guidelines):

1) Decide what you really, really, really want to indulge in ahead of time. If your Aunt Martha makes the best pie known to man and you have been dreaming about it all year, have it! Cut your own portion and sick to it. Eat your meal until you are about 75% full. Satisfied but far from stuffed. When it is time to have your pie, sit down with your tea and really enjoy that pie. Take small bites, eat slow and take it in. ‘Savor the flavor’ as they say.

2) Only have one round. Eat your dinner nice and slow and enjoy it. Only have one plate. Think satisfied not stuffed. Go for roasted veggies, turkey, and salad first. Leave little room on your plate for anything with cream, cheese, or butter.

3) Skip the elastic waistband. So many of us when we know we are going to “pig out” we wear something really comfy that has an expanding waistline. This year dress in something that isn’t your “eating clothes.” Wear nice jeans and a pretty top. This simple step can keep you from binging.

4) Workout before your dinner. Get your workout in and make it count.

5) Keep hydrated with water before and during dinner.

6) Eat healthy, normal meals before dinner. Eat on your plan the rest of your meals throughout the day. Don’t skip meals thinking you are “saving calories” for dinner. This will only lead to a binge.

7) Eat healthy the rest of the week. Think of your Thanksgiving dinner as your “treat” meal. Then jump right back on your game plan. Meet all your workouts, drink all your water and eat all your meals on plan.

I hope that you find these tips and tricks helpful this holiday season! This year at DAMY Health I am going to provide you with a guide for each holiday. With each holiday guide I will provide you with tips, tricks, guidelines, and amazing healthy recipes specially created for that specific holiday (please check out my Halloween guide that was launched in lots of time for you to plan and prepare). Enjoy the most important part of it all by indulging in your family. Have great chats and laughs. That is what really makes the holidays special.