4 Tips To A Healthier Thanksgiving!
Hey, Happy Wednesday Squadies!!
Who doesn't love Thanksgiving—one of the few days of the year when you can celebrate with your friends and family, indulging in some delicious food, and maybe even have a couple of Whoopies!!
While I'm totally on board with holiday indulgence, it's not a bad idea to incorporate healthy options that CAN be super tasty into your meal plan, just like my delicious shepherd's pie recipe, which will have everyone asking for seconds! Another way to stay on the lean train is to include some fitness-related activity before the festivities to boost your metabolism and have you feeling LEAMAZING all day long! Making a few lean decisions before your Thanksgiving meal will set you up for lean success all day long and make the day that much more enjoyable!
Follow these 4 healthy Thanksgiving tips to make your day LEANTASTIC!
1. Plan a healthy Thanksgiving menu.
Plan ahead! If you have a chance to get involved in the meal planning... get involved!! Thanksgiving dishes don't have to be unhealthy. Turkey is a lean protein and adding a few fruits, vegetables, and whole grains makes for a well-balanced, filling, and healthy plate! Try our FREE Recipe Guide for additional recipes that will for sure impress your guests!
2. Stay hydrated.
Holidays are made for the celebration and plenty of Whoopsies! So enjoy those delicious festive cocktails or a nice glass of wine. But remember, it's also important to stay hydrated by having a few glasses of water before, during, and after dinner, which will help increase your metabolic rate. Having big dinners include a bunch of salt and water to help flush that out!If you're looking for a healthier alternative, try flavored flat or sparkling water! Add some slices of cucumbers or lemon to make drinking water more festive, be creative when choosing your infusions!
3.Get Active: Have Some Fun!
As you prepare for your Thanksgiving holiday and all the food that comes with it, it can be pretty tempting to skip your workout, but INSTEAD, make the commitment to starting your day off strong with a 20 minute HIIT! Doing a quick HIIT workout in the morning is a great way to prepare yourself for a big meal to come!
A huge part of staying lean and feeling good through these holidays is preparation! Preparing your body for the upcoming feast will have you feeling ENERGIZED and GUILT-FREE throughout the night.
Don't you always feel better after a sweat sesh? HIIT workouts leave you feeling AMAZING and energized! It also gives your metabolism a nice boost right off the bat! Want to boost the effects of this workout?! Try it fasted! This way, you will burn even MORE fat, leaving you feeling confident and leanmazing heading into your big dinner!
Try out this 20-minute bodyweight HIIT to help you get prepared for your holiday dinner!
4. Be Realistic
The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, GUILT FREE!! Way too many people fall victim to the belief that one weekend of drinking and overeating makes or breaks their fat loss journey. This is completely FALSE!! One bad day of eating or one meal does not derail you, all you need to do is ENJOY yourself and then get back on the lean train the next day! Remember, all the hard work your doing means that you need to enjoy these beautiful moments with your friends and family!
Looking for the perfect healthy side dish? I have you covered!!
I have created delicious mouth-water side dishes that will allow you to enjoy the LEAN WAY without missing out on any of the flavors and foods we all love most!Check out the recipes below to learn how easy it is to stay LEAN this holiday season.
LOW CARB CAULIFLOWER STUFFING
Who says you can’t make stuffing healthy?! This cauliflower stuffing will give you ALL those thanksgiving flavors WITHOUT any bread! This recipe is vegetarian-friendly and can be made vegan by swapping out one simple ingredient: Butter! Having a variety of finely chopped veg along with a nice assortment of herbs and spices, this cauliflower stuffing is sure to satisfy all of your stuffing cravings! The addition of mushroom not only bring in some leanmazing flavors but also gives it some extra protein! Of all the healthy side dishes, this one is one of my favs for sure!
HERE'S HOW TO MAKE IT:
LEANGREDIENTS:
- 4 tbsp. butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped or thinly sliced
- 1 bag (283g) cauliflower rice, cooked
- 1 cup package baby Bella mushrooms, chopped
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp. freshly chopped rosemary
- 1 tbsp. freshly chopped sage (or 1 tsp. ground sage)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
LEANSTRUCTIONS:
- Over medium heat, melt butter in a large skillet.
- Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté until soft, 7 to 8 minutes.
- Add cauliflower and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add parsley, rosemary, and sage and stir until combined. Pour over broth and cook until totally tender and liquid is absorbed for about 10 minutes.
- Serve hot! Drizzle some gravy overtop for even more flavor!
ROASTED GARLIC GREEN BEANS & ALMONDS:
All this recipe requires is 5 INGREDIENTS and 30 minutes of prep and cook time combined! It is so simple, vegan-friendly, low carb, and packed with everything you need to make up a healthy side dish: Protein, healthy fats, and nutrients. Green beans are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin A. Combine them with almonds, and you are set! Almonds are PACKED with nutrients and contain high amounts of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Besides being healthy, combining these ingredients makes for a unique and delicious side dish that is super easy to prepare and cook!
HERE’S HOW TO MAKE IT:
LEANGREDIENTS:
- 340g (12 oz) fresh green beans, ends trimmed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons sliced almonds
LEAN-STRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 425 F
- In a large bowl, mix green beans with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Make sure all beans are coated.
- Pour beans onto a lined baking sheet, making sure they are in a single layer. Place in oven and make for 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and mix in almonds and garlic. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot!