(11/2024) A great way to start your Thanksgiving Day is to participate in the town's turkey trot. Each year families and friends gather to enjoy a run and time together. Starting the day in the great outdoors, enjoying great company makes you feel refreshed and ready for the day.

Have you thought about this year’s biggest family gathering? The menu for this meal usually remains the same from year to year. This year make a few little changes to make the meal healthier. Of course, the turkey is the main attraction. Make sure you get a lean turkey that is low in fat. Most of the fat in poultry is in the skin. You need the skin while roasting for a juicy, tender bird, but before you slice it, remove the skin. That will take the temptation away from those folks who tend to tear off a piece when they slip into the kitchen to see how things are going.

Dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, warm bread and dessert are also part of the traditional meal. I’m not saying don’t have them, just alter the way they are prepared. Mashed potatoes are another mainstay for the meal but maybe this year you could try mashed sweet potatoes or mashed cauliflower. Try whole grain bread for the dressing. Whole grains are much healthier than processed white bread and supply added fiber. Gravy is one of the most important parts of this meal. Let your broth set for a while till it forms a solid skim on top. Remove this and you will have broth with much less fat. The gravy still tastes the same, without the fat. The warm bread can be a variety of different whole grain buns. This way, everybody gets their favorite kind. Add a big salad to this year’s menu. People usually think of salad as a summertime dish with burgers and a cookout. One half of your plate should be filled with veggies. Raw vegetables give you great nutritional value, have them on the table or the kitchen counter for your family and guests to nibble while the main meal is being prepared. They will fill up on these and maybe not eat as much later. Supply a variety of vegetables to pick from. Hopefully, you will have at least one kind that the kids like.

Desseert! Some people live for the Thanksgiving Desert Table. That’s OK. Give yourself a treat. Just look over everything carefully, and decide what you really want. Maybe even sample a few different kinds. Try cutting the slices in half. That way you can try a bigger variety. Watch out for the pumpkin pie, you know who you are! Preparing a small plate of dessert for your guests to take home is also a thoughtful way to let them sample everything, just not all at one time. They can take a little piece of Thanksgiving home to remember for the rest of the holiday weekend. This way you do not have all of that dessert leftover tempting you. Your waistline will thank you later. Check into some small changes in the recipe that will make a big difference in the fat and sugar content of the dessert. Tofu is a great way to add that creamy texture to your pies, cakes and cookies, while lowering the fat and raising the protein. Applesauce in place of oil is another helpful, healthy hint. Sugar is a big ingredient that packs on the pounds. Try cutting the amount of sugar in the recipe, people usually don't notice.

Finally, start a new Thanksgiving Tradition. Take a walk after your meal. I know how everybody feels after eating a big meal, all the more reason to get moving. Take the whole family for a walk in the brisk, fall air. See the beautiful sights of the brightly colored leaves. Share this time and walk off some of those extra pounds you just consumed. If you can’t get the whole family involved, pick a friend or family member that you would like to spend a little extra time with. Share conversation, ideas and just time with them. These tips are not just for Thanksgiving. They work well for Christmas or any holiday gathering.

Think about giving the gift of health this year. Gift certificates to an exercise program may get a person into a lifetime of health. Get yourself and someone you love into exercising. That is the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones. Call me to explore the benefits of an exercise program designed just for you. 717-334-6009

The most important thing is to "Keep Moving", you’ll be glad you did.