Tips for making healthy choices this Thanksgiving

Don't let fears about unhealthy foods ruin the upcoming Thanksgiving and year-end holiday season. You can still enjoy wonderful Thanksgiving recipes while including healthy choices into your holiday meal plans. By adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes nutritious foods, right-sized portions and a little exercise will help you maintain a good energy level, improve your mood, and help you handle the busy holiday season.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Eat at your normal meal times before your Thanksgiving feast, to ensure that you are not hungrier than usual.

2. Offer to bring a healthy dish to share to guarantee that you will have something nutritious to eat.

3. Make half your plate fruit and non-starchy vegetables.

4. When indulging in less nutritious treats (like high-calorie, high-sugar or fatty foods), take a small portion.

5. Balance your food choices. Think about what nutrients your body still needs. Do you need more vegetables? How about an extra piece of fruit? Or should your food choices include something with protein and carbs. 

6. Chew your food well and eat slowly. Pause every so often, put down your fork, take a few deep breaths and pay attention to what your body is telling you. Stop eating when you are full. Remember that you don't have to eat until you are uncomfortable. Instead, enjoy leftovers the next day!

7. Choose lower calorie or no-calorie drinks when possible. Don't forget to drink enough water throughout the day.

8. And after you've feasted take the crew out for a walk, go shopping or do something active indoors.