Do You Really Want to Have a Healthy Thanksgiving?

I have to admit something.  I am really sick of reading magazine articles, blog posts, and newsletters that want to advise me on how to "Have a Healthy Thanksgiving!!"  Don't get me wrong, diet tips are great and when you are working hard to lose weight, they can be really supportive and inspiring.  In fact, I truly believe that the key to weight loss is education.  But, as an adult woman who is 100% in control over the things that I decide to consume, I find myself resenting the fact that the media (women's media in particular) won't even give us one day to enjoy ourselves, our family and the food that has become such an important tradition.



Do I sound like I'm getting on my soapbox?  Well, maybe I am.  There is nothing wrong with spending one day cooking and eating whatever you want.  There is nothing wrong with buying butter and cream and making your grandma's mashed potatoes by following the real recipe, with no low-cal substitutions.  There's nothing wrong with eating real food, made with real ingredients.  You do not have to bring healthy side dishes to your family's Thanksgiving dinner because you are afraid of getting fat.

Do you want to have a healthy Thanksgiving?  Then make the recipe that you drooled over on the Food Network.  Spend the night before turkey day listening to your favorite radio station, drinking wine and cooking food that you can share with the people that you love.  Show up at Thanksgiving and be thankful for your life and your friends and family.  Eat an extra piece of pie and go to bed early, full and happy.

Like I said earlier - you are in the driver's seat when it comes to your diet.  You decide what you eat, when you eat it and how much you want to have.  Eating what you want on Thursday is not going to make you fat.  It's the decisions that you make everyday that really make a difference.  

So go forth and enjoy yourself and your holiday.  Screw the media and the magazines that tell you what to eat - it's not their choice - it's yours.  


Have a Happy (and mentally healthy) Thanksgiving! - Katie

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