Subscribe to our Blog
Whether you’re recovering from your Thanksgiving Day celebration by entertaining, sleeping or shopping, here are some tips to help you have a smooth and healthy recovery:
1. Count Your Carbs
Thanksgiving foods are often loaded with carbohydrates, such as in stuffing, cornbread, mashed potatoes and pie. Although carbohydrates can have many benefits, such as helping to boost mood and keep memory sharp, they can also have disadvantages if not consumed properly. One disadvantage is excessive weight gain. In an article about carbohydrate nutrition information, the website www.CDC.gov of the Centers for Disease Control explains that healthier options are foods that contain whole grains and are high in dietary fiber, while foods with added sugars, such as sodas and candy, are the kind of high-carb foods that produce very limited nutritional value and excess calories. It’s important to limit the amount of carbohydrates that you intake.
To recover: Choose one dessert a day, and look forward to it (score “extra points” if you select fruit over candy or pastries). Opt for water instead of tea or soda. Substitute whole grain bread for white dinner rolls.
2. Keep Moving
During the food-filled holiday season, make it a daily goal to increase activities that allow your body to burn off calories. This can be a challenge.
To recover: When you wake up each morning, make exercise the first item on your to-do list, and take your family on brisk walks after meals. Cleaning your home also can be a good form of exercise. Wash the dishes, put the leftover food away, or start a load of laundry. The most important thing to remember is to keep moving.
3. Enjoy a Leftover Luncheon
Another memorable Thanksgiving moment comes after the Thanksgiving Day feast: the leftover luncheon, sometimes known as the leftover breakfast or leftover dinner or Thanksgiving snack-fest. Regardless of what you call it, you and your family are bound to find yourselves eating leftover holiday food for several days post-Thanksgiving.
The Food Network and various websites are among the resources for a list of dishes you can try by combining some leftovers. With a little creativity, delights such as turkey bolognese, grilled turkey on brie with apple butter, and extra-veggie frittata await you.
To Recover: Repeat Thanksgiving recovery tips 1 and 2.
4. Don’t Shop Till You Drop
The “Shopper’s Holiday” also known as “Black Friday” immediately follows Thanksgiving and offers a chance for finding some great holiday discounts at various retailers throughout the United States. Some stores may be crowded in the early morning hours, but you can usually still find good discounts throughout the day.
Black Friday Tips: The best way to succeed during Black Friday or other shopping is to make a list and a budget, and stick to them. Do your research; you can take advantage of some great deals if you plan ahead and know where to locate the items on your list. Try visiting the stores at odd hours, such as 10:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m., to avoid early birds and meal-time crowds, leaving you more space to shop and save.
The Grow-Up® Plan
Watch Video
About the Gerber Baby
Insurance for Families
