{"id":9153,"date":"2011-11-22T17:49:35","date_gmt":"2011-11-22T22:49:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/hometownhealth\/2011\/11\/3-easy-ways-to-have-a-healthier-thanksgiving.html"},"modified":"2017-12-02T09:52:07","modified_gmt":"2017-12-02T14:52:07","slug":"3-easy-ways-to-have-a-healthier-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/hometownhealth\/2011\/11\/3-easy-ways-to-have-a-healthier-thanksgiving\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Easy Ways to Have a Healthier Thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are a few simple things you can do for the big day:<\/p>\n

1. Make healthier versions of your favorite recipes.<\/b> And I don’t just mean low-fat and\/or low-calorie. Use as much organic, fresh and local food as possible. Think creatively about your recipes. What can you substitute for this or that? Honey and molasses are great alternatives to sugar, and can be added to the wet ingredients for baking. If sugar is a must in your recipe, try using turbinado or brown sugar instead.<\/p>\n

Consider bringing butter back to the table. Small amounts are fine, and hardly anyone has digestive issues with it. More and more evidence is suggesting that butter is not as bad as we have been taught. It is a ‘whole food,’ and one that your grandmother or great-grandmother<\/a> would recognize as edible; margarine and vegetable oils<\/a> are not.<\/p>\n

You can steam, roast or blanch veggies (it’s a lot faster, too, than making a casserole). Consider offering whole-wheat breads and biscuits, if gluten is not an issue. Relishes are a way to add different flavors and textures in small amounts. Apple butter is also a low-sugar alternative for using in a variety of ways, and a great seasonal food.<\/p>\n

Most people know olive oil<\/a> is healthy for cooking (it’s well-suited for baking, sauteing and roasting), but you can also use nut or seed oils (peanut, palm, coconut, and grapeseed, among others), as well. Grapeseed and peanut oils are great for high-heat processes like stir-frying, where olive oil falls short. These oils may be higher in saturated fat<\/a> and cholesterol, but fat and cholesterol are not always the enemy. Trans-fats and hydrogenated compounds (like those found in vegetable oils, margarine, and most butter substitutes) are worse for you than some saturated fat ever could be. Your best bet is to stick with real foods used in moderation.<\/p>\n

2. Get some physical activity together, as a family or group of friends.<\/b> Go for a walk (or a snowshoe, depending on what the weather brings) before or after your Thanksgiving meal<\/a>. Play a board game, or do an activity on the Wii<\/a> or Xbox<\/a>. Instead of just watching football, take the kids out into the yard and play touch football with them (and go easy on the rules). Use the DVR<\/a> for a good purpose.<\/p>\n

Involve family and friends in the cooking, set-up and clean-up. Give everyone a job, and try to keep it light and fun. See who can get their work done faster. Give a prize to the person who helps the most. Keep children occupied with simple, easy thing they can do to contribute.<\/p>\n

If your family causes you more stress than pleasure, suggest a group activity for them to do while you get things ready, like taking walk or playing a game. Ask for help from those family members you can work well with under close quarters. Again, think creatively and try to have fun with the holiday. Be grateful for the help and support you receive.<\/p>\n

3. Eat your meal slowly and enjoy the holiday.<\/b> Don’t rush through your food. It took a lot of time and effort (hopefully with help from others) to prepare, to shop, to cook. Savor the moment when everything is done! Talk with your friends and family; laugh, tell stories; tolerate your relatives’ and friends’ little quirks and personality differences. Let the kids eat at the table with the adults, if there’s room.<\/p>\n

Put your fork down between bites. Chew your food well (this will also help your digestion, so you won’t feel bloated after the meal). Take small portions of everything to try, even dessert. Drink water with your meal (also the least expensive option for beverages). Now is a great time of year to experiment with new foods and recipes, so try that odd-looking dish Aunt Sally<\/a> brought. You never know what you are going to like!<\/p>\n

Be grateful for the food on your plate and your ability to share it. If you have a turkey like most people, consider thanking the animal for adding to your meal (most people never contemplate the turkey, but it was once a living, breathing creature, too). Think about everything in your life you are thankful for, even in the face of these uncertain times, and keep a positive vibe going during your holiday gathering. When you cultivate an attitude of gratitude, during Thanksgiving and even beyond, so much in life changes for the better.<\/p>\n

Have a happy Thanksgiving<\/a> everyone!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are a few simple things you can do for the big day:1. Make healthier versions of your favorite recipes. And I don’t just mean low-fat and\/or low-calorie. Use as much organic, fresh and local food as possible. Think creatively…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":181,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[43,45,47,51,53,55],"yoast_head":"\r\n3 Easy Ways to Have a Healthier Thanksgiving - Hometown Health: A Health Blog Featuring Glens Falls Practitioners<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/hometownhealth\/2011\/11\/3-easy-ways-to-have-a-healthier-thanksgiving\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3 Easy Ways to Have a Healthier Thanksgiving - Hometown Health: A Health Blog Featuring Glens Falls Practitioners\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here are a few simple things you can do for the big day:1. 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