To eat or not to eat

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about, well, giving thanks for what we have but we tend to celebrate by consuming more than we could possibly need - ironic isn't it? Why and how much we eat can be complex however, especially in family settings. Do you risk offence by explaining that you have never really liked some of the dishes? Are you finally ready to explain to your great-Uncle why you haven't actually eaten gluten for the past five years? Plus, everything looks so good and this is only once a year, so why not?

In an attempt to look past those complexities and make small steps in the right direction, try one of the strategies listed below. Your body will thank you (gratitude coming back to you!) and your actions might even inspire others to join in. Let us know how it goes!

1. Eat slowly

Every year, people spend hours upon end cooking turkeys and all the extras only for the food to be consumed in a flash. What a pity! Take some time this year and savour what you eat. How does it smell? How does it taste in different parts of your mouth? What happens if you put your fork down between bites?

It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you're full. So if you've inhaled more than you needed before that signal hits, chances are you'll feel bloated and stuffed and perhaps even itching to open the button on your pants. Take your time eating. See how you feel after 20 minutes. If you're still hungry, keep eating. If not, call it quits and ask for some leftovers if you feel you missed out.

2. Plan an activity after the meal

A great way to ensure that you don't overeat is knowing that you have to play a game of football after the meal. Or go for a walk. Or play a board game with lots of miming and jumping up and down. There are so many things you can do together and even if no one else wants to join in, pop outside for a short walk and some fresh air. The benefit of the activity is two-fold - first, you'll eat less in advance so that you're more able to participate without feeling bloated. Second, if you forgot to eat slowly and are doing something afterwards, this will help you avoid the feeling of wanting to lie down on the couch and moan. And these perks are all before the benefits of physical activity itself.

3. Give thanks

So often after a holiday meal we say 'That meal was amazing, I ate so much!'. Or 'There was so much food, I had to fill my plate three times to get everything on there!'. Sure, somewhere in those sentiments in the gratitude for good food and an abundance of it. But what about that connection with our families and loved ones? We tend to ask children what they're thankful for at Thanksgiving but many of us have a more difficult time expressing our thanks and really meaning it. This year, think of what you're grateful for before the meal and then try spending time truly enjoying it.

I look forward to hearing how these work for you or if you have other suggestions. Happy Thanksgiving!

#eat