Thanksgiving Damage Control or You Have to Plan!

So you’ve made the decision to indulge (I prefer the word “indulge” to “cheat.” “Cheat” implies that you’re going to get away with something, and you never, ever do.) in the traditional high carb foods at Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe you’d hurt Grandma’s feelings if you didn’t, maybe you have a deep emotional tie to certain dishes, or maybe you just like ‘em. Doesn’t matter. Whatever your reason, you need a plan.

Why a plan? Because it is way, way too easy to let indulging at Thanksgiving dinner turn into 6 weeks of gorging on junk because “It’s the holidays!” As many of my readers will attest, it can be powerfully difficult to stop again. I have heard too often from people who are just pulling out of the tailspin six months to a year–and a few dozen pounds, and a few renewed health problems–later.

Thanksgiving Damage Control

Here are some strategies that will help you get to Christmas still fitting into your jeans:

Get it through your head that there is a huge difference between Thanksgiving dinner and “the holiday season.” If you can’t indulge at one meal and then quit, you’d best not indulge at all. You know how many cookies you’ll be confronting in the next month. Be very, very wary–and very, very honest with yourself.

If you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner, consider your menu. Which carbs do you really love? Which make you say “Meh?” Among the carby dishes at the Thanksgivings of my youth were stuffing, mashed potatoes, and homemade oatmeal molasses bread, which I liked. But I never cared much about candied sweet potatoes or creamed onions, so why eat even a small portion? Pick and choose your carbs.

Consider changing recipes where you think no one will notice. I’ve never had anyone peg my cranberry sauce as sugar-free, though of course those who know me would assume as much.

Add a new low carb dish or two to dilute the impact of the starch and sugar. How about a great salad, or a first course of soup?

Eat Breakfast On Thanksgiving Day

On Thanksgiving Day, eat breakfast! If you hit the dinner table ravenous, your chances of picking and choosing plummet.

Learn to say “No, thank you” politely, but effectively. Here’s the trick: When offered a food that’s not worth it to you, say “No, thank you,” then change the subject.

“You have to have Aunt Lucy’s sweet potato casserole! It’s tradition!”
“No, thank you. Hey, anyone want to go to a movie tonight?”

“But you haven’t had a roll!” “No, thanks. Hey, have you seen Julie and Andrew’s new baby yet?” Or “Do you want to go Black Friday shopping?” Or “How’s Schuyler doing at college?”

Doesn’t matter, just say “No, thanks” and then ask a question. Think up a few ahead of time! This is a neat piece of social ju-jitsu that helps derail the “But you can’t diet on a holiday!” nags.

Eat a bit of your favorite low carb foods first–turkey, ham, green beans–to take the edge off your hunger before you start on the potatoes and stuffing. Then have modest servings of your favorite carbs. After that, if you want more carbs, eat more low carb stuff before you take another portion.

Beware the Leftovers

If Thanksgiving dinner is at your house, send the leftover pie home with someone else. If you’re a guest, and are offered a slice of pie to take home, ask if you can take a little leftover turkey instead. But have a plan for it other than sandwiches! (Hint: Sliced turkey spread with mayonnaise, topped with bacon and tomato, and wrapped in a lettuce leaf is divine. Bread is just an edible napkin.)

Your indulgence is over when dinner is over. Period. No hot turkey sandwiches, pie, or warmed-up stuffing later that night, and no making “Thanksgiving” last through the weekend!

Low-Carb Thanksgiving Articles by Dana Carpender

• Low Carb Thanksgiving Tips by Dana Carpender
• More Low Carb Thanksgiving Tips by Dana Carpender
• Thanksgiving Day Leftovers by Dana Carpender Includes Her Turkey Tetrazinni Recipe