You don’t have to be ALL or NOTHING this holiday. You don’t have to give up on all your goals or feel guilty for eating Grandma’s cheesy potatoes!

I encourage you to practice healthy habits this week, while also ensuring you enjoy some of your favorite Thanksgiving foods!

Check out my healthy holiday hacks above and below, check out why these will be beneficial to you:

Complete a harder workout the day before (could also be the morning of): This is going to increase your bodies metabolism by giving it the opportunity to better utilize the fats & carbs you consume. Instead of storing your Thanksgiving dinner, your body is in a better place to metabolize and use it as energy!

Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day: Drinking water will support digestion, keep you energized, remove toxins, and the most important…avoid a holiday hangover from all the fun cocktails 😉

Spend Time Outside: Keep your circadian rhythm regulated, absorb some vitamin D, enhance your mood and more! Benefits of being outside are endless, so be sure to practice this one, even on the holidays!

Practice Gratitude: a healthy mindset goes a long way. Focus on all the good in your life throughout the day for improved mental & physical health, reduced stress and better sleep.

Protein & Fiber at Each Meal: Do this for breakfast/lunch leading up to the “big” dinner to ensure you get plenty of nutrient dense foods, and leave you from feeling ravenous and indulging. You will have more energy AND because protein thermogenic effect is the highest, you will use more calories AKA burn more throughout the day when digesting it!

Fill your Plate with Veggies & Protein: If you’re trying to stay balanced and aligned with your goals, this will allow you to eat the “fun” foods in moderation. Protein also activates the neurotransmitter, Orexin which provides a wakefulness feeling versus that typical turkey dinner couch potato feeling 🙂

Chew Slower, Take More Bites: Digestion starts in your mouth. You will allow digestive enzymes to activate, food to break down and make it easier on your body to digest the food (avoid stomach aches, acid reflux, etc). This will also give you a chance to truly enjoy the food!

Walk After Your Meal, Especially the Big One: Speaking of digestion, standing and moving after a meal will allow for the motility and digestive process to go smoother. This will also reduce blood sugar levels. Whether it’s 10, 20 or 30+ minutes, you will thank yourself!