Healthy Thanksgiving Tips
Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. It’s good to remember the true meaning of giving thanks for all the bounty in our world, without going overboard on the food. While the feasting is a memorable part of the family and friend gatherings, there is a greater world of nature and culture to be thankful for. Try just shifting your focus to things beyond the table, for a first step to a healthier Thanksgiving.
Yet, we must eat. Explore healthier versions of the classic menu. Try that turkey without stuffing, done to perfection, with a big gorgeous side salad, some wild rice and an exotic pear compote for dessert. Skip the gravy. Eat nuts. Plan the meal a bit earlier in the day, and take a walk outdoors in nature afterwards. Or plan an easier version of the dinner, and spend the day at a museum, feeding your soul, then come home to an elegant and simple evening meal. Take the whole meal outdoors for a picnic. Nature is fun in all seasons. Dress for the weather, and cook over a grill in some beautiful place.
The Smithsonian Institute museums are open all day in DC and there are always parks or many local venues open. You might consider helping at a Soup Kitchen or volunteering for a charity that day, to really put your own life in thankful perspective. This gives the regular staff a break, and shows children an example of giving. Remember the Native Americans who joined the pilgrims were doing this out of charity. They brought the food and showed the pilgrims how to survive on indigenous foods.
Find your own tribe. If holidays stress you out, get your friends together for an alternative “family” feast or gathering. So often our families are just not what we need for a relaxed holiday, and there is no reason to stay in a rut. Make your own new tradition. Broil a salmon instead of having turkey. Play funny movies all day. Make it a card party all day. Start with brunch, then order out for pizza. Hang out in the kitchen making something crazy-tedious like homemade won-tons or ravioli and then enjoy the soup or pasta late in the day. Just do something bonding with folks that matter to you.
Or, spend a contemplative day alone. So many workers are stressed and over-socialized in their jobs. You may need just a day at home, alone, with a good book. Do something ceremonious for yourself. Set the table and buy flowers, write letters, or keep up with your journal. Paint, take photos, or do something creative. Make it your own Thanksgiving, something to celebrate your skills and your resourcefulness.
Thanksgiving is wonderful time to plant bulbs for the spring. It gets you outdoors, and sets a mood of anticipation for the next turnings of the year-wheel. The season of winter will be coming, so you may spend some time gathering wood for the fireplace. “Warms you twice”, as they say. Gather nuts or pine cones for fire-starters. Just a bit of activity that is seasonal will put a bloom in your cheeks and feel good physically.
Isn’t that what holidays are really for? Enjoy the season. Enjoy a break. Eat something special. Do something meaningful, with people you care about, and feel good.
