Thanksgiving brings back memories of the lovely food of previous years and touching family reunions, but along with that comes the anxiety of seeing distant family and the fear of gaining the dreaded Thanksgiving three pounds.
Eat your fill, without filling out
For those of you who love to eat, but don’t want to work off any newfound pounds these simple tips will satisfy a stomach without overwhelming the scale.
Start a new Thanksgiving tradition of exercising: take a walk while the turkey is in the oven or play a quick game of basketball before eating. It’s a lot harder to get up and exercise after a full meal.
Limit yourself to one plate. Instead of sampling each individual item, go for the Thanksgiving favorites that you know you can’t live without. This cuts down the want to get a scoop of everything when you know you’re on a limited budget.
Eat slowly. This will give you a chance to realize how much you are eating and how full you are. If you eat too quickly, your stomach is unable to digest it before you fill your plate again.
For those of you looking to overeat, combat a food coma by drinking lots of water, increasing circulation by bending over until your head is near your heart, doing stretching exercises and taking a few deep breaths.
Fulfill the family expectations
Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving with your family or friends, they’ll be sure to take pictures, so make sure to fulfill their expectations.
Make sure to know the dress code if you’re going over to someone else’s house, and if you’re the host, make sure that your guests know what to wear. Typically, Thanksgiving attire consists of a pretty dress or a skirt and blouse for girls. Remember to dress more conservatively in order to not receive surprised faces from your grandmother and older relatives. For guys, a button-up with dress pants or khakis is often the way to go. Some families, like mine, tend to be much more casual, so make sure you know what to wear. After all, you know your family best.
If you’re visiting someone else for Thanksgiving, don’t forget to bring a small present for your hosts to thank them for their hard work. This can range from a cute bouquet of flowers to your homemade apple pie.
Fill family conversation flawlessly
We’ve all been there. The family conversation begins off great, until finally, a relative asks the dreaded question. Have you gained weight? Are you still with your boyfriend? It’s important to remember how to direct conversation your way.
Come to the table with certain topics that are easy for you to talk about that, no matter what family member you’re sitting next to, you can still strike up a conversation. This can be about recent things you’ve done, articles you’ve read or what you’re planning on purchasing on Black Friday. Avoid topics of controversy such as religion and politics.
Studying shouldn’t be completely avoided during the holiday season. Ask for the guest list beforehand so you can look up what your family members have been up to by asking your parents or peeking at their Facebooks.
If conversation starts to get awkward or silent, compliment a dish and ask for the recipe to ease the tense air.
Avoid using your phone because that is the ultimate conversation killer, and it’s just rude. Take time to catch up with your family, it only happens a few times a year!