FUEL: November 2012

Thanksgiving Dinner Reboot
Written By: Lindsay Eisenhart

I can remember a Thanksgiving many years ago where I ate so much, I literally “stuffed” myself to the point of pain.  I felt as if I’d need to be rolled around wherever to hoist myself from the couch I collapsed into...and stayed that way for a while.  Growing up near my grandparents, who were in the mindset of “the more you can put away, the more respect you get around here” taught me that I should pile up the plate and then clean it off...and then go be miserably full for a while.  

Our typical Thanksgiving included turkey (of course), stuffing, mashed potatoes, creamed onions, veggies, and a plethora of pies - all made with the real-deal heavy stuff like cream and butter...my circulatory system’s worst nightmare.  The prize of the day were the wings and the “pope’s nose” - my mom still laughs at the memory of my grandfather and I prematurely plucking them from the bird and consuming them before anyone else had the chance.  


Fast forward a few (ok, a lot of) years; things have changed quite a bit around my Thanksgiving table.  Gone is the heavy cream and butter (thanks to our dairy-allergic kid), and instead we have a focus on more vegetable-based dishes, lighter side dishes and smaller plates!  We try to fill up on more vegetables, minimizing the butter or margarine...there’s always an appetizer of raw vegetables and dip to fill up on (who could ruin their appetite for Thanksgiving?).  We cut down on the sugar, salt and other additives that typically go into side dishes...more of the real flavors come through that way anyway - an added bonus.  We use smaller plates which trick us into eating less (see "mindless eating" by Brian Wansink for the research behind this)...and try to be mindful while we’re eating.  The slower you eat your food, the more time your brain has to register when you’re full, and the less likely you’ll want to OD on dessert!



Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be painful...and it doesn't have to be the time of year where you "inevitably" gain those few pounds you've worked to keep off. You'll be just as happy NOT stuffing yourself to the gills...If you take the time to thoroughly enjoy what you do have on the plate one bite at a time you might be able to complete the Thanksgiving Re-boot too!  


If nothing else, consider "getting rid" of some of those leftovers at the Black Friday Potluck Community dinner sponsored by BaseCamp31 (check out the site for more details).

Happy Thanksgiving!