Get A Grip On Thanksgiving

Did you, like me, go ‘what?’ at the above typical guideline for what to prepare per person for a Thanksgiving meal?

I don’t know why really because pre-op I would have nodded sagely and thought ‘yes, better to over-cater a bit and have leftovers’, rather than run the risk of not feeding everyone to bursting point!

These days I look at this advice, certainly cut it by a half or more, and remind myself that my options will be bariatric-friendly versions and THERE WILL STILL BE LEFTOVERS!

And, so while I am not a party-pooper, I will try and remember this is just one day in the calendar and that’s how it should stay – I shall try and exercise some restraint so that the celebration doesn’t go on for weeks right up to Christmas …. because the damage from 1 day may lead to the damage of 1 month off-track.

In years gone by I have given advice and recipes to see you through this holiday period and they can be revisited by clicking on the links at the end of the posting, but I believe most of you will opt (as I do) for the same traditional meal and just ring in the changes with the odd different side dish or accompaniment. So here’s a pictorial reminder of what you can find in the Thanksgiving posts from before. But I have got a little more advice to add to that …..

My final advice goes something like this:

The holidays can be one of the hardest times to follow and adhere to a bariatric eating regime, especially if:

* others aren’t eating well and healthily

* others aren’t supporting your choices to eat well

* others don’t want to hear about your reasons for eating the way you do and don’t agree with it anyway

This is an important time for you to put yourself, if not first, then somewhere at the front of the queue. To try not to falter too much, even if you do relax and take a little field trip off the bariatric road for just a day, and to practice some compassion for all the family, your friends, neighbours and most certainly yourself.