Use these ten helpful tips for a more healthful Thanksgiving:

1. Start the Day with an Affirmation.
• An affirmation is a strong positive statement of self-belief.
• Say your affirmation to get focused in the morning and to remind yourself of your goals throughout the day.
• Try this one: “I can enjoy my Thanksgiving meal without overdoing it”.
2. Eat Breakfast!
• Skipping breakfast to save calories can lead to problems, since by the time the turkey is served; your hunger level may be higher than your level of motivation to practice portion control.
3. Practice Low-Fat Cooking Techniques.
• You can savor the flavor and still lower the fat in your Thanksgiving meal.
• Try these techniques: bake stuffing on the side, buy a fresh rather than a self-basted turkey and trade out some high fat ingredients such as cream and cheese with low-fat or fat free options.
4. Use Volumetrics®.
• Volumetrics® is an eating approach that allows you to add vegetables, fruits and whole grains to your day to help you feel more satisfied while you reduce the number of calories you eat.
• Jenny Craig’s Soupitizers™ are a great way to add taste and variety to your meals while helping you control calories.
5. Move a Little More!
• Go for a walk with your dog or play Frisbee with the kids. The movement can help burn calories, blunt your appetite and serve as a stress reducer.
6. Focus on the Social Aspects of the Party.
• Focus more on people to make Thanksgiving more a people event and less a food event.
• Take charge of the picture-taking instead of taking charge of the appetizers.
• Consider hosting a potluck so others can bring in the dishes you’d otherwise overindulge in.
7. Manage Your Portions.
• You can enjoy all the tastes of Thanksgiving using visual cues to control portion sizes, such as 4-ounces of turkey compares to the size of a deck of cards and a half-cup of stuffing compares to the size of a small fist.
• If you use the plate method, 1/4 of your plate will have a serving of a starch like stuffing, 1/4 will have a protein such as turkey and 1/2 will have vegetables, which you can pile as high as you like (without additional fat).
8. Indulge In A Splurge — Safely!
• A splurge adds 250 calories, so this will allow for a larger portion of your favorite Thanksgiving dish such as candied yams or a little extra treat such as a glass of wine.
• You can enjoy an occasional splurge and still stay on track with your weight loss goals.
9. De-stress.
• The stress of shopping, preparing, and cooking, paired with trying to resist all the food cues can increase your risk for a binge.
• When you feel stressed, stop and ask yourself “What do I need?” You may need a non-food alternative such as a few deep breaths to restore your calm or a 10-minute walk to rejuvenate.
10. Find Ways to Simplify the Day.
• Use the same techniques to keep your weight management goals a priority that you would use on other days.
• Ask for help, delegate and spend your energy on what matters most.

You can find many more helpful tips in Jenny Craig’s Holiday Survival Guide. If you don’t have one, ask your Jenny Craig Consultant.

Watch our New Thanksgiving Video! »

VOLUMETRICS® is a federally registered trademark of Barbara Rolls used under exclusive license by Jenny Craig, Inc.

Rolls BJ. The Volumetrics Eating Plan. New York, NY: Harper; 2007.
Rolls BJ, Barnett RA. The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan. New York, NY: Quill; 2000.

All trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland, or used with permission.