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Stuffing: A breaded dish commonly enjoyed on Thanksgiving or what you'll be doing to your face with aforementioned dish and more. If you regularly find yourself filled with remorse come Friday, it might be time to make some changes, especially with a wedding on the horizon. While one day of indulgence won't kill you, healthy eating is a lifestyle and that unfortunately includes holidays, according to registered dietitian Danielle Colley.
She says a typical Thanksgiving meal can rack up to about 1,700 calories — nearly a days worth of calories for most. If you eat leftovers for the rest of the week, you could gain up to two pounds by Sunday. Fear not, brides, we're not here to depress you with statistics then leave you hanging. Colley suggests following these simple tips so you can enjoy without guilt.
Start your day off right.
While eating more food might sound counterintuitive, it's important to eat a filling breakfast so you aren't starving come mealtime. Colley recommends eggs and whole grain toast for lean protein and filling fiber for breakfast and a broth-based soup and salad to fill you up without the calories for lunch or dinner (depending on when you eat your big Thanksgiving meal).
Choose these healthy swaps.
Sometimes you just know there's not going to be anything healthy on the table. Adding a low calorie dish or making swaps that resembles Thanksgiving favorites can save you.
Instead of sweet potato casserole, try roasted sweet potatoes (Calories saved: 150)Instead of pecan pie, choose pumpkin pie (Calories saved: 200)
Skip the skin on your turkey (Calories saved: 50)
Skip the gravy (Calories saved: 50)
Instead of fried onion on casseroles, try panko bread crumbs (Calories saved: 50 per serving)
See more: 5 Ways to Beat the Bloat for Your Wedding
Eat more of this ...
Veggies are your best friend when faced with a table full of food. "Veggies provide fiber and fill you up with less calories than protein foods and breads," Colley says. Aim to fill half your plate with veggies like salad, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, roasted carrots and other non-starchy kinds.
Eat less of that ...
You're eyeing mom's mashed potatoes, but you wish you didn't know there are two sticks of butter and cream in there. Good news is you can still enjoy your favorites, just have a serving size equivalent to three to four bites. "That's all you need to enjoy the food, but no so much that it will derail your goals," Colley says.
Remember drinks have calories, too.
We all choose to forget alcohol has calories too, so keep it in moderation. Avoid sugary cocktails and stick with low calorie mixers like sparkling water or diet soda to come in at around 100 calories per drink. For wine, you have to mind the pour five oz. will give you 125 calories.
Take a break in between courses.
Leave the table and take a break before gobbling up dessert. "This will give your body time to register all the food you just ate and may keep you from overindulging," Colley says.
What are your tips for staying on track during Thanksgiving? Tweet us @BRIDES!