My Thanksgiving Tips!
I want to share a few of my Turkey Day TIPS with you.
These are tips that I have shared year after year because I believe them to be most helpful and I practice them too! If you keep reading to the bottom I will share my MENU with you too as well.
Thanksgiving TIPS:
BUFFET! Think about serving your food buffet style!
Fill your plate (use the “1 & DONE” method below) and if you decide you want seconds, remind yourself that you will need to get up and move to the buffet to refill. Sometimes the mindfulness in reminding yourself you need to “get up” may make you stay seated and be satisfied with just 1 plate of food! And because I'm all about LIFESTYLE too, I love when a buffet table looks pretty and is set up nicely. It presents the food you took so long to cook so beautifully, and it keeps the table you dine at cleaner and with more room for decorations (think candles, pumpkins, leaves, candelabra and anything else that screams Thanksgiving to you!)
GO MINI! Think individual portion sizes for cupcakes, desserts, cornbread or stuffing. This is an easy way to keep an eye on portion control and remind your guests they can try something or everything. We often take too much... but what if we were able to try everything without over eating if it was already portioned out! This way of serving may take longer in the cooking phase but I assure you it will be worth it for your guests who will likely try more. Also, “mini’s” present really well, platter well, they are just plain fun and so cute!
Here are a few amazon links to my favorite mini's (sharing so you get the idea):
REMINDER: Adjust your cooking times with "mini's" AND save time with less serving pieces to wash and clean up!
“1 & DONE!” Fill your 9” plate ONCE and that is it! Be reasonable, be mindful of mostly healthy proteins and veggie options! I'm going to challenge you to do this. Take time to think about what you choose. Fill your plate with protein first, then veggies then starches.
9” PLATES! Use 9” plates- smaller plates hold less! (Enough said!)
OPTIONS! Your food choices are about having good options, healthy options, options for you and others too. So if you are hosting, offer a lot of options! Think mashed potatoes and cauliflower mash, green bean casserole and roasted green beans. I want you to have what you normally do BUT if you have a healthy goal and you are in control offer a healthier option for you and others who may join you- you may be surprised! (If you are in a strict weight loss phase, or muscle gain you need to eat toward your goals. You dont need to compromise anything, you just need to plan it ahead, prepare it and enjoy!)
HYDRATE! Get your daily water goals in before dinner. Drink a glass of water before you start to eat, continue to hydrate through the meal. Water will also help you feel full faster! Seltzer with a lemon or lime is another fun alternative to feel like it's a holiday!
CANNED PUMPKIN: HEADS UP: All canned pumpkin is not created equal! Go for the canned pumpkin that has NO added sugar! Cook with the healthier option because you know your pumpkin pie calls for added sugar too!
EAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY! Eat all day as you normally would. Frequent smaller meals high in protein to help keep you full. If you try to conserve your food intake or save calories for your Thanksgiving dinner meal you may feel more hungry, and that may cause you to eat much more at dinner! Avoid this by eating small meals throughout the day!
Let me remind you of this —> 1 bad meal does NOT negate all the hard work you may have been doing up until today. Tomorrow is a new day, and you can get right back into it! YOU WILL BOUNCE BACK! But, that is not me giving you license to eat out of control. Remember how you want to feel at the end of the night or tomorrow morning when you wake up!
Sharing my classic Thanksgiving Menu:
Appetizers:
(I put out small dessert plates so people can fill their plates but leave room for dinner)
hummus & cut veggies in a mini holder (see above link)
charcuterie platter with pickles, dried fruit, nuts and mustard
hot dogs in blankets
potato puffs
nuts
open bar, seltzer, sodas, WATER!!!!
Dinner Buffet:
Italian Bread sliced
Turkey (white meat carved & dark meat)
Gravy with mushrooms
Meatballs
Mashed Potatoes
Spicy chicken poppers
Cranberry sauce
Stuffing (mini loaf size)
Corn Bread (mini muffins)
Garlic Green Beans (Not casserole!)
Brussel Sprouts
Tossed Salad with variety of vegetables with dressing
Dessert:
(Yes- by then ALL mini's)
Mini Apple Crumble
Mini Fruit Berries cups
Mini strawberry shortcake trifle
Mini chocolate mousse
Nuts, Dried Fruit, Chocolates, Candy
