If Wednesdays haven’t given it away already, let me be the first to say: I like to eat. I grew up in a big family with strong roots in both Jamaican and southern American cultures, so good food wasn’t ever hard to come by. Bold flavors and hearty portions were standard operating procedure at our family table. Not exactly the ideal setup for someone trying to keep their waistline to a minimum!
I learned quickly that I’d have to hone the skills of picking and choosing when it came to family dinners, especially around the holidays. The trouble was (and still is!) there’s just so much goodness to choose from, things can easily get out of control without you realizing it… until you’re stuffed and sleepy and it’s too late.
Over the years I’ve learned to listen to my body – not my mind! – to learn when enough is enough. Your brain will ingest all the good food you’re surrounded by over the holidays on sight and make you think you’ve got to get it all on your plate then and there. But I’ve found that by the time you do all that, you’re so stuffed you can’t even enjoy those last few bites anyway. Ever get sick at the thought of food? Yeah. That’s what we’re trying to avoid here. So here are a few tips for indulging within reason and keeping everything appetizing for maximum fulfillment.
1. Know your options. If you’re hosting a holiday meal, it’s easy enough to decide what you’re providing and what those invited are bringing. Knowing the menu will help you decide in advance what you absolutely must have vs. what you might get to later on. If you’re going to someone else’s place for the festivities, do everyone a favor by volunteering to help in the kitchen. This will get you a first hand look at what’s being served so you can devise your plan of attack early. And when you’re helpful, you’re often rewarded with tasting and take-out benefits. At least that’s how it works in my house!
2. Be strategic. They say a balanced plate is the key to any quality meal. Same rules apply at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Once you’ve scanned the options, you can take one of two approaches depending on the family dynamic. Option 1: If you’re a guest and not super close to everyone just yet (you know, if you’re the new significant other or recently-made friend, for example) don’t get ahead of yourself; take the “mini scoops of everything you want to try” approach. Fitting everything on one plate will keep your scoop size in check and ensure you get to taste a little of everything you scoped out in step 1. And since you may be to new to the family to be guaranteed a to-go plate (not how we roll, but some people are like that I’m told…) you’ll want to get at least a bite of everything so there are no regrets.
Option 2: If you’re family or close enough, plan for leftovers. Decide on one rationally sized plate for now and save the second-tier options for your to-go plate (though you’ll want to also save room on plate #2 for your absolute faves… if there are any left). Balance everything out with smaller scoops for more variety, or feel free to commit to spoonful splurges on just a few things you know you can’t do without (e.g. I essentially reserve my whole plate for Mom’s sausage and potatoes at Christmas brunch and skip the waffles, etc. because I can eat those anytime).
3. Don’t forget dessert! Don’t get so carried away with dinner that you forget about dessert (if you care). I, for one, must always have apple pie on Thanksgiving. Sure I’ll swipe a bite of the pumpkin or sweet potato from my sister’s plate, but those aren’t must-haves for me. And since I know I’ll want pie (with french vanilla ice cream, no less) I always save room by skimping on the food (but not without labeling and hiding my leftovers in the back of the fridge when we’re hosting). But again, it comes down to knowing your options. If dessert doesn’t seem so appealing, forget about it and use all your calories on dinner. Then take a nice walk with the family afterwards (Black Friday shopping, anyone?)
When Thanksgiving’s at my dad’s, I know I’m eating gumbo and the stuffing sans oysters with a little fried turkey on the side. That’s it. That’s all I care about. And since I’m often the one making dessert, I couldn’t care less about that, either. So usually I just pack up a plate of turkey to go with my stuffing, stash it somewhere away from my brother and ravenous cousins, and eat bowls of gumbo until my heart is content (before the vultures fish out all the seafood from the pot… which is totally against house rules, by the way). Then we burn off all that rice by cleaning the kitchen, and I still have a yummy Thanksgiving plate for Friday!
4. Plan for travel. Going to more than one house to eat? Definitely take that into account before you start making plates. You don’t want to stuff yourself only to show up at house #2 with a less than acceptable appetite. Because not eating and packing a to-go plate is just not cool. I recommend the mini scoop approach on an even smaller than usual plate at both houses. Bonus points for you if you’re allowed to take a plate to go from each house! I will say this: planning for travel DOES NOT in my book mean “come with Tupperware.” You’ll get all the side-eyes from me for this. Too far. Too much. Don’t be that person. Please.
If you play your cards right, you’ll eat well and still have more to enjoy for a day (or two?) to come. Most importantly, remember that it’s just one meal and one day. Not worth totally undoing your hard work to reach your fitness goals all year long! Enjoy the festivities and food and fellowship, but a little self (and portion) control go a long way to maintaining balance and soaking up some no-regrets holiday cheer!