To many, good nutrition and thanksgiving dinner seem to cancel
each other out. However it should be possible and even easy to
make a nutritious meal that is a pleasure to share with friends
and family. Here are a few tips to help you make your holiday
meals healthy ones too.
Prepare a wide variety of foods. Traditional thanksgiving
stories tell us of meals that contained wide varieties of dishes
reflecting the backgrounds of the many people who came together
for these meals and to give thanks. The nutritional benefit of
eating from a wide variety of foods is you gain a wider variety
of nutrients. Also, you are less likely to overload on a single
type of food. If you don't have time to prepare a large number
of dishes, many grocery stores sell prepared dishes that you can
add to the variety of dishes you're cooking yourself. Gourmet
grocery stores often prepare these dishes on site.
Try some simple recipes. Instead of making the obligatory green
bean casserole with mushroom soup and fried onions, how about a
simple green bean dish with a dash of sea salt? Substitute yams,
cooked in butter with marshmallows and brown sugar, with a more
simple preparation of yams. You may be surprised at how much
people enjoy the taste of the original ingredients.
Be careful of portion sizes. An ideal meal is derived from all
of the food groups and should include a wide variety of
individual foods. Instead of loading up your plate with mashed
potatoes, start with smaller portions of everything that has
been prepared. If you would like a second helping, follow the
same procedure. By eating from a wider variety of foods you will
be providing your body with a more complex array of nutrients
and you'll be able to enjoy the many flavors as well.
Pace yourself. Unless you're on call for surgery, you probably
have a little time. Instead of jumping right into your second
helping, consider a short intermission and burn some calories by
helping out with the dishes. By eating more slowly, your body
will give you signals when you are full. If there are leftovers
you can always eat them later.
Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all of the things that
we have. It is a time for us to remember and reflect on the
things that are important in our lives that we so often take for
granted. The sharing of a meal with friends and family is a
wonderful event and is cherished by nearly all cultures. So take
pleasure in the eating and the sharing of food but also consider
the nourishment that food gives you and be thankful and give
honor to the abundance which you have to share.
About the author:
Dave Saunders is a professional lecturer, and certified
nutritional educator. This article can be found, with an audio
edition, at
http://www.glycoboy.com/nutrition-articles/111/top-tips-for-good-
nutrition-this-thanksgiving/
