Thanks-groaning

It's upon us: the day when we are force-fed huge quantities of food that we don't want and hope to never have to eat again. Especially the next day. All of those leftovers.

Yes, it is time for Thanksgiving, and what becomes for some, a slippery slope through New Year's. And no, there's no chance anyone will believe you were force-fed.

How do you plan to get through the holidays without over-indulging and making yourself feel sick? Exactly that: plan. When you look at the typical foods that are served on Thanksgiving, it's not any one of those items that will undo all of your healthful eating. Sure, there may be a lot more fats, salts, and sugar than is typical in your daily plan, which is why you want to plan ahead and be conscious of that. Also, if you find balance - smaller helpings of candied sweet potatoes and larger helpings of the green beans - you will realize that a little goes a long way.

Think of what our plates look like when we sit down to eat: typically, there isn't room for all of the stuff. It's hanging off of the sides! One plate is surely enough, but the pressure always seems to be on to do a round-robin "just one more time". That's the one that usually gets us, having us sitting in our chairs afterwards, leaning back and loosening our suddenly shrunken clothing. If you feel compelled to go that extra plate, maybe plan for that round to go even heavier on the lean turkey and green beans.

Don't beat yourself up too bad if you do go a little overboard. It is only one day, filled with friends and family. Make a plan to have a day of whole foods on Friday, or if you're traveling, commit to order salads at restaurants or share a plate of pasta with someone. One day does not need to lead to 30 more.

By entering the season's festivities with a plan for moderation, and if necessary, a back-up plan to go easy the day after, you will be giving thanks to yourself!

Virus Season

It's that time of year again, when it seems everywhere you go, people are coughing and sneezing. How do you protect yourself from getting sick?

We can all recite the basics, but it is important to actively practice them every single day. When we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, visiting with friends and family, and still trying to keep up with work, the steps we would normally take to maintain good health tend to slip. This is when viruses have opportunity to take hold in our system, and the result is the flu or a cold.

Wash your hands, frequently! This keeps you from placing viruses into your body with your own hands - hands that have touched surfaces where others who are sick have gone before them.

Plenty of rest, regardless of the hustle and bustle of the season. Take care of YOU first, and you will be able to sustain high energy levels.

Drink plenty of fluids. This doesn't mean high fat egg nog, either! Keep up a regimen of water. Too cold out to enjoy water? Keep a pot of hot tea on your desk. It's another form of water, and you can experiment with flavors of tea. There are a lot to choose from, if a visit to the local grocery store doesn't convince you!

Eat well. Same rules apply for good health, always: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish and lean meats. Celebrate the changing season by trying new recipes. For fresh ideas, go to my website www.healthyrecipeoftheweek.com and try something new.

Maintain your exercise regimen. No, running through the malls and stores doesn't really count as exercise. Are you really mindful of your body, or are you caught up in lists and not forgetting anyone? Make the time to move your body, giving your physical self a chance to stretch and breathe.

Take the time to take care of your body, and you are a long way towards avoiding those nasty viruses that are only too happy to undermine your good health.

Fast Food in Trans-ition

It appears that when the public leads with their wallets, the food industry will eventually follow. A simple matter of economics, and it is something we need to remember as a collective:

We have the power.

By electing better eating options with our dollars, we can affect how a business will work to continue to get those dollars. Those businesses that don’t give us what we want won’t stay in business.

There have been stories in the news recently about fast food restaurants. Some of them have decided to get rid of trans fats in their foods, and opt for a healthier alternative. Is it because they feel guilty that trans fats have been found to raise blood cholesterol levels? Doubtful, though it’s not likely that they are ecstatic to hear that news! Again, this is an industry, and businesses stay in business by being competitive and making a profit. This is where we come in.

When we demand healthier foods and are willing to hold our money out to those who will give us what we want, the food industry will respond in kind, or they won’t survive. Remember, business is only trying to give us what we want in order to get what they want in return, which is a profitable business.

Businesses make choices based on what makes sense to their bottom line. If hydrogenated fats, or trans fats, give a longer shelf life, this is good for a business that is trying to provide us with food that stays good longer. On the flip side are the health effects, which is where nutritional research comes in. It has been found that these fats can lead to heart attacks. Research results are provided to the public, and we are warned. We digest this information, and then decide that we need a better alternative, and when we speak up and are willing to hold our dollars back, business sits up and listens. It is here that change will take place, as business once again looks to its bottom line for guidance. Our dollars ARE their bottom line, and this is where our power lies.

We as consumers must educate ourselves on nutrition and what is best for our bodies, then join our voices and ask for what we want and what we deserve: food choices that provide us with the best opportunity for radiant, good health.