Pumpkin pie, green beans, stuffing and 3 kinds of cranberry relish start calling my name the moment Thanksgiving rounds the corner.  I adore the holidays and absolutely love sitting down with our family at Thanksgiving.  It’s one of the few times a year when we all gather around the table to share a meal, catch up on our lives and spend the day curled up and enjoying each other’s company.

But with all of that family time and fantastic food can come lots of sluggish days, full stomachs and missed fitness goals.  You should absolutely enjoy your time with family and friends but also be mindful of the food you’re putting in your body and keeping yourself on track.

When turkey day arrives keep these 10 tips in mind to stay healthy and fit this thanksgiving:

1. Eat breakfast.  You may think you’re saving extra calories for later but by not eating breakfast, you’re more likely to binge when you get to the big meal.  Eat a healthy breakfast with veggies and good fats to start your day off right.
2. Drink enough Water.  Many people confuse hunger with thirst.  Make sure you’re well hydrated by keeping a water bottle with you for the day.
3. Get some exercise.  No matter the length of time, just get out there and get your blood pumping.  If you only have 20 minutes, no problem, do a tabata workout.  Anything from a hike with family, a barre class or a run outside will be a great start to the day.
4. Go easy on the appetizers.  Cheese and crackers are there all year.  Save your calories for the main attraction.
5. Use a smaller plate.  Studies find you eat about 25% less if you use a smaller plate vs a bigger one.  This is such an easy trade there’s no excuse not to.
6. Chew slowly.  I know I know, but it tastes so good.  Chewing slowly allows your brain to catch up with your stomach.  Fast eaters consume around three ounces of food per minute, while slow eaters only eat about two ounces per minute.  That can mean a lot less calories.  So enjoy the dinner conversation and enjoy your food.
7. Be mindful of liquid calories.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good glass of wine.  But it’s easy to consume more calories than you mean to.  Try substituting cocktails with lots of sugar for a vodka soda or something less sweet.
8. Breathe.  Thanksgiving can be stressful with chores to do, food to cook and family to manage.  Take a moment to do a bit of deep breathing, even if it’s only for 2 minutes.  Here are a few simple and easy breathing techniques. 
9. Meditate.  Stress can get the best of you and cause you to not enjoy the day or binge on an entire pumpkin pie.  Meditation can help you manage that stress in a more productive way.  I love the app Headspace for at home meditation.
10. Write down what you’re thankful for.  It’s easy to let the holiday season zoom by.  Take a moment to sit down and write down 5 things you’re thankful for this season.

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