Thanksgiving is a week away.  Many will spend hours in the car traveling to or between family gatherings, only to arrive at their destination and have mounds of food placed in front of them.

What is one to do? Working diligently to maintain healthy choices, avoid junk foods, and keep moving on a regular basis could be all for not after this one day??? NOT!  RELAX…

Our health and well being is the culmination of what we do on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis.  Its really about the choices we make every day, so each day we make good choices, contributes to better health.  This is 1 day, (or maybe a week depending on how much you actually cook) and not the whole year.

So, with that, and all the Holiday parties to follow in the next month and a half… Here are some tips to keep that turkey off your hips!

• If you are on vacation, this is the perfect time to practice that routine you would like to institute when you go back.  Take the time to walk or do a few squats between commercials.
• Eat a healthy snack before you go, so you aren’t ravished and ready to eat a whole cow (or garden for our vegetarian friends) when you arrive.
• Drink a BIG glass of water 20 minutes before you eat. (or 10 minutes or 5 minutes or right before you eat… just drink it!)
• TAKE. YOUR. TIME. eating.  Allow your body to register what is in the belly and to tell you when it is full.
• Remember the difference between “I don’t” (preferred) vs. “I can’t.” (to be avoided at all costs)  The difference between these two phrases can be success or failure!
• Moderation is key – you can have a sliver of pie, just not the WHOLE pie.  Pick a small piece of the desert that “completes” the meal for you.
• Don’t forget the veggies.  At least half of your plate should be veggies. (NOT just green bean casserole – fresh veggies, whole veggies, even plain veggies)
• Opt for whole foods you recognize as the source and just try a taste of things you know are refined, if you must.
• BONUS: At half-time take everyone outside to play a game of pick-up football, a family 5K, or just wrestle with the young-ins… movement is what it is about!

Tis the season to remember all the things we are thankful for.  (I like to do this on a daily basis, but its nice to have a reminder day for it…)

Here are a few photos of our past Holiday gatherings.

First 3 photos are of the 5,000 meals campaign at Lamb of God church.  We delivered meals for the church to people out in the Buckingham area who needed meals to help celebrate the holiday.  Then my daughter and I work on a holiday treat for our friends who hosted us for Thanksgiving, the Ballo’s.