Hints for a Healthy Thanksgiving

I have a few suggestions for those of you who would like to enter the New Year without another resolution to lose the weight you gained through the holidays:

• Enjoy the variety of food available at Thanksgiving without consuming large volumes.
• Get some exercise before and after the meal, even if you just take a walk.
• Make an effort to see if there are lower-fat alternatives to some of your family's traditional holiday meals.
• Give others the opportunity to work in the kitchen. Even if they don't do things the way you would, they may know of healthier methods for meal preparation.
• Buy a smaller turkey and prepare smaller servings of all that you plan to serve.

And remember, do everything you can to emphasize the familial aspects of the gathering over the gastronomic. The meal is a transitory experience that will be gone from your system within 24-36 hours, while the memories (good or bad) could last a lifetime....

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