November 23rd, 2021
I am so excited for Thanksgiving! Not only is it one of my favorite holidays, but I will be traveling to see family. I have not seen this side of the family since Thanksgiving 2019! I love Thanksgiving because it truly is time to spend with family. There is no pressure of getting gifts, just gather, eat great food, and watch football. At least, this is how my family celebrates Thanksgiving.
As we wrap up our discussion on diabetes, I thought it would be helpful to give you a few hints to successfully navigate your Thanksgiving meals. Since I enjoy food, especially the comfort style, often high-carb and high-fat variety offered at my family’s holiday gatherings, I have to form a mental game plan to avoid a food coma caused from overeating and the dreaded lethargic drive home due to a carb overload. This may sound crazy to some, but I have goals I am striving for and want to set myself up for success, even during the holidays.
My first recommendation is to take your time eating. Visit with family/friends and drink water in between bites. Give your body time to get the “full message” to your brain. Another suggestion is to graze on the vegetables from the veggie tray. If you get in 1 or 2 servings of vegetables before you sit down to eat, you will eat less because your stomach will already be partially full. My last recommendation is to move. Whether it is going for a walk, skating or playing games outside (weather permitting), adding movement will help fight off sleepiness and get your blood moving. My favorite suggestion is to go back for seconds. You may be saying wait a minute Lacey, I thought you were trying to avoid overeating. Let me clarify, do not fill your plate completely on your first trip. Try scooping half the size serving you would normally put on your plate. If you are still hungry, go back for seconds, again only getting half the normal serving. This also allows more time for your body to send the “full message” to get to your brain.
As far as diabetic friendly foods at Thanksgiving, www.naturalwellness.com suggests the following:
~ Stuffing filled with veggies, seeds, and meat instead of the traditional stuffing that is packed full of bread.
~ Faux mashed potatoes using cauliflower and parmesan cheese instead of potatoes.
~ Sweet potato casserole without the marshmallows.
~ Sauteed low carb vegetables, such as spinach with garlic or cabbage with onions.
~Pumpkin pie, minus the crust.
I hope you try at least a couple these tips during the holidays. Let me know how they affected your meals and how you felt after eating. Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
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Have a blessed week ~ Lacey