A Better Plate This Week

Most everyone piles their plate high at Thanksgiving.  I'll admit, I do too.  But what if you could simply swap out some foods, still get some great stuff on the plate, but cut your calories in half??
Possible?
Of course it is.
Let's look at the typical plate at thanksgiving....

Honestly, this is kind of what it looks like when I usually eat Thanksgiving dinner.  First off, where are the greens? And, secondly, this plate is filled so high in carbs and sugar, it’s no wonder I always want to nap after dinner.  LOL.

Team Beachbody's Registered Dietician, Ani Aratounians weighed in on this typical Thanksgiving plate. “It’s high in carbs and there’s lot of sugar and fat. Especially saturated fat. There’s butter everywhere and hardly any fiber. After eating this plate, you’ll feel stuffed and bloated.” And this doesn’t even take into consideration the pie. Or the wine. Or seconds…or thirds.


The Revised Thanksgiving Plate

One easy way to totally redo your Thanksgiving plate (and still have all your favorites) is to start with the green veggies. Put the green beans and the salad on your plate first. Then, add the turkey (aim for the the skinless pieces if you can find them), and then add on your other favorites.

The calories aren’t low, but they’re much more reasonable than the first plate. Aratounians’s thoughts on this plate were much more positive. “This is much higher in vitamin and mineral content, and antioxidants. Overall, this is much more balanced for your blood sugar with the protein and fiber balancing out sugar content. And, I can’t help but notice that it’s a much prettier plate!” She recommends, if you are going to go for seconds (and really, who isn’t), go for the greens and protein (again, ideally, without skin).

I hope that this comparison will help you come Thanksgiving! Let me know, will you consider trying the “revised plate” approach?