Thanksgiving 2013 has arrived! Not sure about anyone else but I have been anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving 2013 since….Thanksgiving 2012! This is my most favorite holiday for a variety of reasons including getting to spend time with family and friends and eat the most delicious foods on the planet. While it is a joyous occasion that features much thankfulness and celebration, it is ideal to keep the celebrating contained so as not to celebrate on into an elevated pants size! Here are some helpful tips that can guide you in the right direction to food bliss instead of food overload:

1. Survey the food items first before you scoop. Take a look at all of the food items available first before you begin to scoop so you can better plan your plate. If you don’t look before you scoop, you could end up with a plate of food much larger than you anticipated - worse than that, you will probably eat it all.

2. Use a smaller plate. It is almost inevitable that if you have a larger plate, you will subconsciously want to put more food on it.

3. Start out with a salad. If you start your meal with a salad, you will be a lot less hungry while filling your Thanksgiving day plate.

4. Drink water with your meal. You will save calories (most other beverages have more calories) as well as be able to better manage your body’s fullness.

5. Try to make ½-¾ of your plate fruits and vegetables. In general, fruits and vegetables are less calorie dense than other foods. By filling up your plate with mostly fruits and vegetables, you will have less room for the calorie dense items.

6. Aim for the smaller portions first. Let’s say there are many dishes that you are dying to try. Go for a 1-2 Tablespoon serving size of each. If you wait 20 minutes after eating and realize you are still hungry, you can go back for seconds of your favorites.

7. Last but not least - enjoy! This is a glorious occasion - so you should enjoy your food! By following these simple portion control tips, you will better be able to hone in on your body cues and stop eating when you’re full.

Resources:
Smart Portions: LSU AgCenter Nutrition Curriculum
Choosemyplate.gov