Thanksgiving, the first big holiday of the year. It happens to be my personal favorite because I feel it is a very unselfish day. No gifts involved, just a lot of kind words and gestures surrounding friends and family…oh and food! Lots and lots of food!
Well I believe we should start acting a bit more selfish on this day….hhmmmmm maybe selfish isn’t quite the right word, mindful and aware seem better.
Mindful and aware of our needs, the needs of our bodies.
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I’m not sure about you but traditionally in my family, Thanksgiving is THE overly gluttonous eating holiday. Finger foods, appetizers, salads, drinks, a full Italian course, the turkey course and last but not least the decadent dessert table.
I’m full and tired just thinking about it.
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So here’s the thing, it’s all about moderation, a bit of self-control and really good digestion. So let’s try to prep in advance for these years festivities.
Thanksgiving checklist:
Be sure to eat in parasympathetic mode
Close your eyes and take 10 nice long deep breaths prior to beginning your meal.
Our autonomic nervous system (that part of our brain that controls things we don’t think about like breathing, digestion, healing, heart beating, etc) has two modes: sympathetic (stress – the fight or flight mode) or parasympathetic (relaxation).
Stress can compromises our digestion and if we’re not parasympathetic, we’re in sympathetic – stress – mode. Stress slows our digestive system a lot, and can cause distress.
Chew well
Carbohydrate digestion literally begins in the mouth (the enzyme salivary amylase is released on contact)
Incorporate cultured foods or fermented foods
These super foods provide beneficial bacteria and lots enzymes that will aid in digestion and elimination
Know your sensitivities & triggers and don’t go overboard
Just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you have to eat it, just a nibble will most likely be enough to satisfy that craving.
Don’t sit down and get lazy…yet
Move around the house and help out for a little bit after your meal.
Make some ginger tea, mint or chamomile tea after your feast.
To make ginger tea, simply grate some fresh ginger root into your teapot and pour some boiling water over it, cover and leave for 3 – 5 min.
*Substitute the flour in pies to almond or coconut flour
* Replace sugar in deserts and pies with a healthier alternative like coconut palm sugar, rapadura, sucanat or molasses
* Use sea salt in place of table salt
* Ditch the canola oil and replace w/ unrefined cold pressed oils such as palm, coconut and olive
* Use real butter (preferably grass fed) not a ‘buttery spread’
