5 Things You Should Do on Thanksgiving

Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by Becky in Love Your Body

The Thanksgiving countdown is underway.  My last blog post was a survival guide to Thanksgiving.  We talked mostly about what pitfalls to avoid on this blessed holiday.  So, on a more positive note, here are 5 things you should definitely do on Thanksgiving.

1.  Eat Turkey!

The main course at your holiday meal will most likely be the big bird, and that is great from a nutritional standpoint.  Turkey is low in fat and high in protein. It is also a great source of iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and B vitamins.

One serving of turkey breast(approximately the size of a deck of cards) with the skin has about 190 calories. Without the skin, you’re down to only 160.

If you L.O.V.E. that dark meat, you’re still only at 190 calories for dark meat without skin, and with skin you’re at 230 calories.

2.  Enjoy that Pumpkin Pie!

As far as desserts go, Pumpkin Pie is an excellent choice for the health-conscious consumer.

Pumpkin pie is loaded with carotenoids, which have great anti-cancer properties. Pumpkins also contain lutein and ziazanthin, which can help promote eye health and keep macular degeneration at bay. Vitamin C and potassium are also an added health benefit, as well as fiber.

The number of calories one slice of pie will cost you will vary depending on the pie and the size of the slice, but you’re definitely better off with pumpkin than pecan (a delicious dish but extremely high in fat and calories), or any other double crusted pie.

If you’re concerned about calories make sure you top it off with a light or fat-free whipped topping.

3.  Do something active!

Growing up, it was a tradition that Thanksgiving morning, all of the men would assemble for a testosterone-filled football tournament entitled “The Turkey Bowl.” Now that I look back, this was a great tradition not only for the memories and bonding, but because it got us up and moving on this day of overindulgence!

If you are not the football type or it is far too cold to go for a stroll, find SOMETHING active that you can do without hurting the family togetherness.  Play tag in the basement with the kids, turn on the radio and have a dance party as you prepare the food, run on the treadmill as you watch a Thanksgiving cartoon with the kids.

If you don’t take a “break” from your commitment to living an active life, you are less likely to mentally take a “break” from eating reasonably and waking up the next day with a turkey hangover.

4.  Take a nap.

The after-dinner nap seems to be a cherished part of many people’s holiday, and that is great!

While many of us moms may count an occasional cat nap as a “guilty pleasure,” we should wear it with pride!  The benefits of napping have been well documented.Research has shown that a nap can promote physical well-being, improve mood and memory, sharpen senses and revitalize a person. The neurons in brain functioning get to rest and recuperate from the day’s stress. Intellectual performance improves from the boost a midday nap provides and accuracy in performance increases too. MRI’s of nappers show that brain activity stays high throughout the day with a nap. Without one, it declines as the day wears on.

So use any excuse you’ve got to put your feet up and catch a few Zzzzs Thanksgiving afternoon.

5.  Be thankful!

I don’t know about the rest of you, but there are many days when I am so exhausted by nightfall that all I can think about is bundling up under covers, pulling out a good book, and reading until I drift off into that welcome sleep where no one is asking me for anything, there is no crying, no whining, and no messes to pick up.

On days like this it’s hard to step back and appreciate all we have:  the unconditional adoration of our tiny ones, the hilarious things they say, the meaning they bring to our lives.

How about husbands or families that support us and love us even though they are well aware of all our flaws?

And even our mom-bodies, that may not be airbrushed perfection, but have miraculously given us our most precious children, have taken the physical abuse of unhealthy diets and the emotional abuse of unmet and unrealistic expectations, and continue to meet the heavy demands of lugging car seats and toddlers in and out of minivans and up and down flights of stairs.

Truly, moms, our cup runneth o’er.

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