TIPS FOR A HEALTHY THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, good food, and peaceful time at home with family. However, the holiday has gained a reputation for causing many to lie down on the couch after dinner, too full to function. While everyone should be able to enjoy delicious food and heartwarming company, you may not want to go overboard. Here are some tips to enjoy the holiday and stay healthy while doing it.
YOUR MORNING WORKOUT SHOULD STILL BE YOUR PRIORITY
In-person events may be postponed this year, but that doesn’t mean you should cancel your fitness traditions! Challenge yourself the morning of Thanksgiving with a socially distanced run, a weightlifting session, or a HIIT class. Morning exercise, whether it’s solo or with a few family members, will let you start your day off feeling accomplished.
“Exercise revs up your metabolism,” says personal trainer Nick Briney, “so on a day (or days) that you know you’ll be eating more calories than normal, it’s smart to get a workout in prior to those meals. By doing this, you’ll be more likely to be able to handle the extra indulgence instead of packing it into your body’s fat stores.”
A post-workout smoothie with UCAN Energy + Protein is the perfect way to recover from your workout and avoid feeling exhausted – especially if you have a full day of cooking ahead.
SMART SNACKING
When Thanksgiving day comes around, you may be tempted to eat less throughout the day to save up for the “big meal”. However, purposefully eating less, or not at all, before dinner can make you more likely to overeat once delicious food fills your table.
“Instead of not eating all day to save room for dinner, have your normal meals/routine during the day,” says registered dietitian Lauren Mitchell. “We are more likely to overeat at Thanksgiving if we go too long without eating. If your holiday meal is at an odd time, have a UCAN bar as an easy snack to balance your blood sugar before your Thanksgiving day meal.”
Here’s our healthy tip: to avoid getting stuffed with turkey, snack on a UCAN bar a few hours before you plan on eating your big meal. Our Energy bars are filled with SuperStarch and fiber to keep you feeling satisfied, staving off those hunger cravings come dinnertime.
STAYING ON TRACK
Some people use the weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year as a kind of “holiday pass.” Perhaps their fitness goals can wait until they make New Years’ resolutions or maybe there are too many holiday cookies in sight to stay on track with healthy eating habits. Needless to say, there are many chances to derail the progress you’ve made throughout the year.
UCAN makes it easier to stick to your nutrition plan! By fueling your workouts properly with UCAN Energy and snacking on UCAN Bars or UCAN Almond Butter to balance blood sugar, you’ll be much less likely to crave those sweet treats.
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