Let’s face it: getting healthy, staying healthy, or even thinking about health is the last thing on our minds during the Thanksgiving holiday, wouldn’t you agree? We spend so much time in the kitchen preparing our most delicious dish that we have perfected for the consumption of our loved ones. If we are honest, our favorite Thanksgiving dishes are not the healthiest. Well, at least mine aren’t.
Ways to Prioritize Your Health
Believe it or not, there are plenty of ways to prioritize your health on Thanksgiving. Some of these ways are by drinking water/lower calorie drinks, opting for grilled or baked food over deep fried, incorporating more green vegetables, and adding some exercise into your day.
I get it, this may sound like a chore, but you don’t have to do it perfectly nor do you have to do it alone. Think about one way you want to prioritize your health on Thanksgiving and do that. For example, you can say that you want to make sure you walk for at least fifteen minutes. That’s a great goal to set. Even if you indulge in your favorite food that day, you went on a walk. Walking is a great start (and is an underrated form of exercise).
If you’re feeling like you need an extra push, grab a friend or a family member to do it with you! Only drinking zero calorie drinks this Thanksgiving? Make sure someone else there is also drinking zero calorie drinks.
Organizations
Thankfully, Mississippi has organizations that are committed to getting the community moving on Thanksgiving. Events such as the Turkey Trot and Hobble then Gobble are great places to start. The Turkey Trot is a popular walk that happens in several cities across the United States around Thanksgiving time. However, you can run, jog, or even skip on the Turkey Trot! Speed isn’t usually emphasized at these events, so you can go at whatever pace feels best to you!
Hobble then Gobble is an annual event hosted by the Pinebelt Pacers. The Pinebelt Pacers is an organization dedicated to people who are interested in recreational and competitive walking and running. For years, they’ve had many participants in their annual Hobble then Gobble two mile walk / five mile run, and this year is no different. This event helps you get some exercise on Thanksgiving, so that you can have that extra slice of cake, guilt free! While registration is closed now, you can prepare yourself for next year’s walk / run starting now. This amazing event also has giveaways and a kids’ run for free!
More Movement, Please!
While walking and jogging are fantastic ways to get active on Thanksgiving, there are other ways to incorporate movement on this holiday. For example, you can make things fun by having a dance-off after Thanksgiving dinner. Burning calories, getting your heart pumping, and showing off your best dance moves? Sounds like a triple win, to me! Turn on your favorite playlist and dance the evening away!
Another way to get moving is to incorporate exercise into your regular Thanksgiving activities. Let’s say you’re washing dishes after dinner. You can briskly walk in place for thirty seconds in between every few dishes. If you are carrying a jug of water (or any other beverage that comes in a gallon jug), you can do ten bicep curls per arm.
The Last Slice
Thanksgiving is one day away, and it’s always so great to relax and eat our favorite foods without guilt. However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking small steps to improve your health while you’re at it. Do not think that small actions mean nothing. After a while, those small actions will yield big results. Be patient with yourself this year and the years after. Remember to stay on the lookout for next year’s Hobble then Gobble and Turkey Trot events.
