Enjoy Thanksgiving Without Packing On The Pounds

By Bethenny Frankel

Stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy aren't usually part of a low-cal diet, but you can still savor Thanksgiving dinner without falling off the weight loss wagon. Here are my favorite tips.

More from Health.com:
50 Holiday Foods You Shouldn't Eat
15 Ways to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
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• Start Prepping Early

  No, I don't mean the turkey. Cut alcohol, coffee, and red meat from your diet for a few days prior to the big event. You shouldn't starve yourself, but try to eat lighter foods and limit your sugar intake.

• Eat Sensibly All Day

  Don't skimp on meals all day in order to save some room for Thanksgiving dinner -- you'll end up overeating and doing more damage. Aim to eat something every four hours: Have an egg-white omelet for breakfast, fruit and low-fat cottage cheese midmorning, and a piece of whole-wheat toast with peanut butter a few hours before dinner.

• Slip On Something Fitted

  You'll be less likely to overeat if you're not hiding beneath an Empire waist dress or loose top.

• Go In With A Plan

  Fill most of your plate with turkey, salad, and green beans and leave a quarter left for the fun stuff. Serve yourself a golf-ball-size portion of three of your favorite treats. A few bites of stuffing or sweet potatoes won't derail your weight loss efforts. For dessert, savor two golf balls of pie -- choose your favorites -- or swap out one of the flavors in favor of a small scoop of ice cream.

• Stick With Just Two Cocktails

  Alcohol can lower your inhibitions, causing you to overdo it on the mashed potatoes. Limit yourself to two drinks for the night -- either wine or a clear liquor -- and be sure to drink lots of water in between.

• Savor Your Leftovers Wisely

  Split what's left of your Thanksgiving feast into individual Tupperware containers. Add a slice of turkey, some green beans, and a scoop of one side of your choosing, and then stick the containers in your freezer. You'll have an individual Thanksgiving ready in minutes for whenever you need to fix a quick dinner. If you're feeling more creative, use your leftover meat to whip up turkey salad with low-fat mayo and serve it over greens with dried cranberries and walnuts.

• Get Rid Of Temptations

  Send any leftover pies home with your guests!

• Related Video

"Enjoy Thanksgiving Without Packing On The Pounds" originally appeared on Health.com

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/22/thanksgiving-tips-weight-gain_n_2147407.html

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