Tag Archive | Thanksgiving Day

No Food Addiction Triggers on Thanksgiving Day

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, so I thought I’d serve up a little food for thought today in preparation for tomorrow’s feast.

Hopefully all feelings will be joyful and kind whether you’re enjoying the day with friends and family, or curled up with a good book or movie.

So no thoughts about food addiction for one whole day. Enjoy everything the day brings and every morsel of food you put in your mouth.  Remember, we always have something to be thankful for.

I wish I knew who wrote this list of thankful things, but the e-mail I received it in didn’t mention the author. If you know who penned it, perhaps you could let me know so I can credit the author.

I Am Thankful!

For the wife
who says it’s hot dogs tonight,
because she is home with me,
and not out with someone else.

For the husband
who is on the sofa
being a couch potato,
because he is home with me
and not out at the bars.

For the teenager
who is complaining about doing dishes
because it means she is at home, not on the streets.

For the taxes I pay
because it means I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party
because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work
because it means I am out in the sunshine

For a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning,
and gutters that need fixing
because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining
I hear about the government
because it means we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot
I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking
and I have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge heating bill
because it means I am warm.

For the lady behind me in church
who sings off key because it means
I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing
because it means I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off
in the early morning hours
because it means I am alive.

And finally, for too much e-mail
because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.

Live well, laugh often, & love with all of your heart!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

5 Tips for Keeping Your Food Addiction in Check on Thanksgiving Day

Here are five things you can do to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner without giving in to your food addiction.

1. Don’t limit your eating to Thanksgiving Dinner. You’re going to have leftovers anyway, so why not start on them early?

Instead of stuffing yourself at the dinner table, eat just enough to stop feeling hungry and go back for more when you feel hungry again.

2. Stay away from your addictive foods. You know which ones they are. Don’t make a big deal out of it. Just do what you need to do.

My big addictive food is bread. I don’t even keep it in the house. If it’s a choice between pumpkin pie and rolls, the pie wins every time. I don’t know why but it’s not addictive for me like rolls and bread are.

3. Always save room for dessert. You know you’re going to eat it so don’t let the guilt rob you of that simple pleasure. Eat it and enjoy it and let it go at that.

4. Don’t give in to snacking. Eat a real meal, at least some protein and carbohydrates,  something that will satisfy you for 2-3 hours. One of the problems with snacking is that it seems to go on forever. A meal should have an ending.

5. Give your body some time to process the food you’re taking in. That way you’ll have enough energy to play a little football, go to a movie, or take a nice walk.

Thanksgiving Day is not a time to be worrying about emotional eating, food addictions, or losing weight. That takes all the enjoyment out of it.

Overeating is common but it doesn’t have to be. Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re not, and be thankful you have enough food to worry about overeating.