Thanksgiving and what should you eat?

Hi Everyone,

I know for many of you the stress of Thanksgiving is really a hard thing to deal with.  I had WLS in 2008 and my 1st Thanksgiving was about 1 month after my sleeve surgery.  I have learned in the last 3 years how to deal with Holiday's.  I never feel deprived.  I have learned sometimes just being able to taste something really does help me.  So I look at all the food that I think I want to eat.  I take about 2 Tablespoons of what I want--NO more than that.  Then I sit down and have one bite of anything that I want to eat.  If I think I want more then I have another bite.

You will be amazed at how well this works.  Save room for a bite or 2 of some dessert too.  You have NOT overeaten.  You have had a taste of what you wanted.  And it is just one night.  If the dinner is at your home, try to send the left over foods home with others that you feel might be a problem for you. Keep the turkey if you had turkey, it is a great source of protein.

If you are really worried about any of these foods and no one will take them home, you can donate them to some local homeless shelters--they can always use your food.  You be in control of the food and do not let the food control you OK.  Remember this is something that is manageable. We now have learned that we can taste things, but we do NOT need to overeat to be happy and feel satisfied.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Enjoy yourself and Hugs,

Suzanne

Well said...And thank you for the suggestions...I am founder/Leader of a weight loss support group meeting here in Greenville, Ohio...At our meeting last month we talked on this very same subject...Here are some suggestions that I read to them, that I found online...Thought I might share them with you and anyone else that reads this...Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!....
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 Forget the bad holiday food cycle. Instead, think about maintaining a healthy balance before, during and after the holidays.

If you start the holiday season being comfortable with most of your everyday eating choices and have a good weekly routine of activity, then the holidays (and holiday parties) are far less likely to be stressful. In fact, you might even enjoy them more!

Great tips for making good food choices during the holidays:

• Alcohol contains a surprising number of empty calories. Wherever you can, cut back on the amount of wine, beer or liquor at get-togethers or dinners.
•  We all work hard to manage our weight, but it can be a little more challenging at holiday time. A great trick to remember is to eat something healthy before hitting a holiday party (we'd like to suggest LEAN CUISINE Sélections Chicken à l'Orange). This way, when they're passing the appetizer tray or holiday treats, you'll feel more in control of your choices.
• Don't be tempted to skip a meal before that big holiday dinner; you'll just be more likely to load up on appetizers, sweets and other choices that aren't as good for you.
• Make time for staying active. Activity or exercise will help give you more energy, allow you to deal better with the inevitable holiday stress, and help you maintain your weight.
• Bring fat-free or low-fat dishes to potluck parties, and encourage others to do the same.
• Arrive at a dinner party just before mealtime so you avoid all those before-dinner snacks and drinks.
• Replace sweets with healthy holiday snacks such as fruit baskets and nuts in shells. They look just as festive and they’re healthier.
• If you're cooking, simplify the meal. Serve raw vegetables with a dip for an appetizer, a low-fat main course with one or two vegetables, and a fruit and low-fat cheese platter for dessert.
• Drink lots of water. It'll help you feel more full so you're less tempted to fill up on sweets and you'll generally fell better for staying hydrated.

Above all, relax. Be realistic and remember that the holidays are for celebrating, after all. One indulgent party, an extra glass of wine or enjoying a high-fat dessert isn't going to make or break your overall routine, as long as you're regularly making sensible food choices and staying active.

Take your traditional holiday recipes and revamp them to make them healthier. Replace butter in baked goods with pureed fruits such as applesauce. Use egg replacers or egg whites as substitutes for whole eggs. Limit the overall amount of butter and oil you add to dishes. Cut down on salt by using herbs and spices to add flavor instead. Leave off the bacon. Although bacon is traditionally used as a flavoring, it contains a significant amount of unhealthy fat and calories. Use sharp or flavorful cheeses to replace less flavorful cheese. This will allow you to use less. Replace whole milk in your recipes with skim milk or soy milk. Make baked goods made with whole-wheat flour and maple syrup instead of sugar.

Seek out the veggie dishes and fruit salads that are not laden with sauces, butter, creams, and sugars. The closer they are to their natural state, the fewer calories they contain. Winter squash, cranberries, sweet and regular potatoes, cooked onions, and green beans are loaded with healthy fiber, vitamins, and anti-oxidants. Just beware of excess salt, fat, or sugar, and you'll do great. 

RANT: not aginst you but some the info you posted... hope you forgive me...


With all due respect - I do disagree with some if not most the tips. "Great tips for making good food choices during the holidays:"
Eating like that IMO was what messes up our life and metabolism.
Replacing natural fats with sugar (apple sauce) and low fat variety (skim milk vs full good milk) - is what made a lot of people really fat.
The substation is what makes a lot of food not satisfying and people eat more. 

Maple syrup is not more health y than sugar. It is sugar and some of it may be even worse than sugar - the one that has more fructose and acts in our body as fructose - really may be damaging to us. 

Salt - good salt is healthy - unless people have problem with it. By cutting down my salts as told my doc and nuts - my BP got so low that I was passing out while standing up. Post op WLS - some of us due to significantly lowering BP need to add more salt and spices, not limit them.  There are so many of us with low - to dangerously low blood pressure... We need the salt in the limited qty of foods we eat. 
Raw veggies post op RNY - may only create problems.  The gas, the issue with digestion, the issue with assimilation of nutrition from raw veggies - are questionable - the best. 

We need proteins, good fats, good carbs and veggies...  But make food "not real" is not the answer... and I am sure it is not healthy...  

I do believe that soy milk is such a pure substitution for milk, and the way the industry makes it - make the soy milk almost like a poison.. so suggesting substitution the unhealthy soy milk for milk - is not really good idea - IMO..  

I hope you do not get angry with me ... but the message about low fat things, made me fat and unhealthy in the first place.

 No I am not mad at you...Everyone has their difference of opinions...not all diets/tips/suggests suit each and everyone of us...Everyone takes from it what pertains to them...To each their own.

Hi,

Thanks for your points of view.  I do tend to eat protein first. I use Olive Oil mostly and fresh veggies and fresh or frozen fruite, very little sugar and Whole Grain products.  So you have to make choice for yourself that work for you. It is just a lifestyle choice for me.  I never consider myself on a diet, but this is just the way I eat.

Have a Happy Thankgiving.
Suzanne

Suzanne, your way of eating may be good for a VSG person... not so much for us , RNY...
So as you said - people need to make choices that work for them, but a general indication ... may be that what works for one person, will work for someone else. 

 When I posted what I did, I didnt say it was hints/tips just for RNY or any specific type of surgery...Everyone can take from it what they wish, and if they dont like something in the list, then look over it, dont use the tip...Just because someone may have a difference of opinion doesnt make the other person wrong...Thats my outlook on life...So I dont feel wrong for posting what I did, nor do I feel that the tips were of bad choice...Everyone have a wonderful Turkey Day.

Tammy,
I know... And I hope you understand that I am not against you... I know that the beliefs for what is healthy and what is not are still out there on the net...
And it does bother me... because at one time I was doing exactly that... and was gaining weight and gaining weight....    All the low fat, processed food can't be good for anyone... and specially for a person who had WLS ... specially RNY or DS... I would not even suggest that for a VSG person... 
It makes me mad (not at you) that so call "specialists" still try to promote the "healthy way" - low fat, heavily processed foods... (i.e. skim milk, soy milk...) as a good alternative to a whole foods... as they were created ...

I guess I am also dealing with ulcer pain last few days... so I am a bit "cranky"... so keep that in mind when you say a extra prayer (for me...)

(((HUGS))) and have a Happy Thanksgiving... 

 Its okay, I am not upset or angry at you...I can agree with a few of your thoughts, but yet I disagree with a few, just as you do with me...its okay to disagree with people, as long as its done in respect and not anger...

You have a wonderful thanksgiving too....Tammy

Hi,

I guess I can only speak about what I know and that is the VSG.  So I will make a  point to say that I am directing this to people who have had a VSG.  I really have very little knowledge about RNY.

Maybe you could explain to me what you would suggest when it comes to eating during the Holiday Season if you have a RNY.  I am always willing to be educated on something I know very little about.  It never hurt to keep learning.

Thanks for your comments.
Hugs,
Suzanne