11/19/2025
🍂🦃 Thanksgiving is next week!
We want to help you enjoy Thanksgiving without derailing your health goals!
Thanksgiving is one of the most joyful and food-focused holidays of the year. Between family gatherings, comfort foods, and traditions passed down for generations, it’s easy to feel torn between enjoying the day and staying committed to your health.
The good news?
You can enjoy Thanksgiving without feeling stuffed, sluggish, or guilty afterward. Here’s a realistic, flexible, and completely doable plan to help you feel your best while still savoring every part of the holiday.
🥚 1. Don’t Skip Breakfast
Many people “save up” for the big meal, but this usually leads to overeating later.
Starting your day with protein and fiber helps stabilize blood sugar,
reduce cravings, prevent feeling overly hungry at the main meal, and keeps your energy stable throughout the day. A simple breakfast like eggs, Greek yogurt with berries, or a protein shake works great.
🍗 2. Build Your Plate With Intention
A balanced plate doesn’t mean a restrictive plate. It means you’re choosing what matters most to you.
A simple guide:
✨ ½ plate protein (turkey, ham)
✨ ¼ veggies (salad, green beans, roasted vegetables)
✨ ¼ “holiday favorites” (stuffing, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, casseroles)
This gives you the comfort foods you love while keeping your blood sugar and energy stable.
🍽️ 3. Slow Down
Most people finish a Thanksgiving plate in 10–15 minutes, but your body needs longer to send fullness signals.
Try putting your fork down between bites, chewing more slowly, taking small pauses, sipping water, and checking in with your body halfway through your plate. You’ll enjoy your food more and feel much better afterward!
🥧 4. Use the “Two or Three Bite Rule” for Sweets
Sometimes you don’t need the full slice of pie or a giant scoop of dessert to feel satisfied.
A few intentional “joy bites” give you the taste, the tradition, and the enjoyment without the heaviness or sugar crash.
🥤 5. Hydrate Throughout the Day
Holiday meals are often salty, heavy, or more indulgent than everyday meals. Staying hydrated helps prevent headaches, improve energy, reduce bloating, support digestion, and balance alcohol intake if you're drinking. Drink a glass of water before the meal and sip during the gathering.
🍷 6. If You Drink, Pace Yourself
Alcohol hits harder on an empty stomach and may lower your inhibition around food.
Try a 1:1 rule with water, choosing lower-sugar drinks, eating first, and listening to how your body feels. You’ll enjoy the day more and avoid the next-day slump.
💉 7. And If You’re on a GLP-1 (Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, etc.)
You do not need a separate set of rules but there are a few helpful reminders: eat slower than usual (your fullness hits fast), stop when you’re comfortably satisfied - don’t push past it. If your injection normally causes nausea, dose later in the evening. Smaller portions may feel better, and that’s okay. Think mindfulness, not restriction.
💛 8. Give Yourself Permission to Enjoy the Day
Thanksgiving is about connection, gratitude, and celebration - not perfection.
One meal:
❌ will not undo your progress
❌ will not sabotage your goals
✔ absolutely can fit into a healthy lifestyle
We want you to feel good, stay present, and enjoy a holiday that’s full of warmth, gratitude, and intention. With a little planning and awareness, you can honor both your health and your traditions.
🦃🍁🧡