Tips to Avoid Overeating on Thanksgiving

We can all agree that overeating tends to be encouraged come the holiday season, and Thanksgiving is notoriously known for this. What is meant to be a holiday to celebrate with loved ones and show our gratitude has quickly evolved into a night of feasting and overindulging on all of our Thanksgiving dinner favorites.

While it’s okay to enjoy foods you don’t typically eat on a regular basis, there is a fine line between enjoying a plate of it and going overboard. Overeating can be damaging to the body, even on a short-term basis. Although many blame the sluggish post-dinner feeling on tryptophan, a hormone found in turkey which happens to be a precursor to melatonin, it may actually be a result of your body working harder to digest a large than average meal.

If you’re one of the many people who want to put an end to the overindulging and want to simply enjoy your Thanksgiving meal without crossing the line, here are a few tips to help:

Don’t skip your daily workout: take advantage of your morning and go for a run, walk, or training session.
Don’t skip meals: saving yourself for later might result in overeating. Instead, have your regular meals and enjoy a regular-portioned dinner rather than a large dinner to “make up” your missed meals.
Hydrate: hydrate throughout the day as this will help curb cravings and keep you feeling full.
Use a smaller plate: research shows that a smaller plate with the same size portion as a bigger plate will trick your brain into thinking your meal is large.
Stay mindful: paying attention to your food, pausing after every bite, and putting your fork down every once in a while can all help you stay aware of your meal and decrease the chances of eating too quickly and going back for more.
Keep food out of sight: the old saying “out of sight out of mind” can be applied on Thanksgiving, if you keep the appetizer and dessert table far from where you’re standing you’ll be less likely to pick at the food and lose track of how much you’re eating.
Wear tight clothes: wearing clothes that are comfortable but still tight enough to keep you aware of how much you’re eating is a helpful reminder to know when you’re reaching your limit.
Leave room for dessert: if you like to eat dessert and drink, keep this in mind when serving yourself dinner. Rather than eating until you’re extremely full, keep the post-dinner treats in mind and reduce your portions.
Wait it out: thinking about seconds? Wait a few minutes before grabbing another bite as your brain doesn’t receive signals immediately but rather a few minutes after you finish your meal.
Go for a walk: get up and get moving after dinner, this will not only burn some calories but ease your digestive process!