Whether you are cooking or eating this Thanksgiving (or both), one thing to be mindful of is keeping the Thanksgiving Day dinner healthy. It is estimated that a typical Thanksgiving meal contains between 2,000 to 7,000 calories! The average adult should consume between 2,000 to 2,400 calories per day. A Thanksgiving dinner of 7,000 calories is more than three times that!

Needless to say, these meals can pack on a lot of calories so here are a few tips on making your Thanksgiving Day dinner and other meals a healthy one:

• Eat smaller portions throughout the day and during the meal. If you take a small sampling of your favorite foods, you can leave room for that special something you really like!
• Watch out for many of the snacks that coincide with Thanksgiving Day, such as breads, cookies, and candy. Nuts are a healthy alternative, but make sure to watch how many you consume. According to the American Dietetic Association, a one-ounce serving of almonds (about 23 nuts) is an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, protein, fiber, and is about 160 calories.
• Make sure to eat your vegetables and fruit. Yams and cranberries are standard within many households on Thanksgiving and are very healthy foods (both are very high in nutrients). Keep the recipe simple, reduce extra sugar, and enjoy their natural flavors. Salad is also a great way to pack in multiple vegetables to your holiday meal.
• Drink water throughout the day and watch high calorie beverages with sugar as they can add up fast. Drinks like soda and alcoholic beverages can add about 150-350 calories (per beverage) to your day’s total. Sparkling water is a great substitute.
• When preparing foods, be sure to choose healthy and low-calorie alternatives. Creams and butters can often be replaced with sour cream, yogurt, skim milk, and non-hydrogenated margarine.
• Be active and burn some calories! Play with the kids, start an outdoor game tradition, play rather than watch football, or take a walk or two throughout the day.
• Most importantly, enjoy your family, friends, and traditions – let them – not the food – be the focus for the day.

For tips on preparing a healthy Thanksgiving meal, take a look at these recipes:  http://thanksgiving.betterrecipes.com/healthythanksgivingrecipes.html.

For more information on healthy eating, please visit healia.com.