When it comes to Thanksgiving, you may think you can’t enjoy your favorite comfort foods and still eat healthy, but Dr. Nandi is here to tell you that it’s not only possible, it’s easy too.
How can you eat healthy and still enjoy your favorite comfort foods during Thanksgiving?
The secret is pretty simple: eat real foods and avoid anything artificial. That means skipping anything processed or modified. I want you to choose fresh sweet potatoes instead of canned yams, real butter over margarine, and whole wheat bread over white bread. It’s time to cook from scratch. Use fresh wholesome ingredients like real cranberry sauce, homemade wheat stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans. Eating real food will help keep you healthy and feeling great.
What’s in processed or modified foods?
Processed means a food has been changed from its original, raw form. When a food is overly processed, it can contain chemicals not generally used in cooking like emulsifiers and other additives. These were created to mimic real food. Many processed foods don’t have a lot of nutrients and tend to have a lot of added salt, fat, sugar and preservatives.
What prescriptions do you have?
I want you to enjoy yourself on Thanksgiving but also be healthy - so here are my prescriptions:
Partha’s RX
1. Make sure you drink plenty of water
It helps you feel full, making it less likely you’ll overeat.
2. Use a smaller plate
It’s easier to control portions when you’re not filling a super-sized plate.
3. Skip the seconds or wait 20 minutes before refilling your plate
This gives your body the opportunity to feel full.
4. Stay active
Instead of vegging out on the sofa, get outside. Go for a walk with the family or start a game of flag football.
What are foods we should avoid?
I would recommend you avoid processed products like low-fat and fat-free foods, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated oils, and anything labeled “diet.”’
