Thanksgiving Tips & Tricks

Did you know?

The best way to "get through" the Thanksgiving holiday is to:

• RELAX
• PLAN WHAT YOU CAN and
• ENJOY the holiday.

Fill your heart with gratitude (instead of your belly with processed carbs) and know that every day you are making the best choices you can. If you decide to eat something that isn't typically what you eat, be aware of that choice, accept it, and move on.

Now before I yap on with my tips and tricks for Thanksgiving, let me say something. If the kids popped in, or hubby is yelling because he forgot where he put his keys or anything else has distracted you, come back to me here. This next nugget of knowledge is something I really want you to understand.

If you are metabolically unhealthy and don't want to add to the progression of your disease(s), you need to treat how, what, when, and why you eat, differently than someone who isn't sick. I know. I know. It isn't what you want to hear. After all, it's the holidays. The time when everyone ditches their "diets", binges, gains weight, and waits until the New Year to start over. Don't tell me I can't enjoy (fill in your favorite unhealthy treat) with my family, friends, or on my own before I go to bed. If this is something you can relate to, let me ask you this:

If a doctor told your son/daughter, hubby/wife, or someone else you care about, that they have an allergy, say to peanuts or eggs or something, and consuming either item could lead to serious medical complications or even death. How would you react? What if you received that news right before Thanksgiving? Would you think, okay, it's the holiday time, so he/she can enjoy the peanuts or eggs, because he/she really likes them? We'll just keep the EpiPen close by and then after the New Year, we'll get rid of those items and start over. 😕 

• If your answer is yeah, that's what I'd do. You can stop reading right here. Heck, it might be best to even unsubscribe from Tisha Talk completely because we just aren't right for each other.
• If you answered No or NO WAY even, let me ask you another question. What if you were the one who had the allergy and eating that item could lead to serious medical complications or even death? Would you prepare the house, the meals, and life moving forward with as much motivation and determination as you would for your loved one? If you're thinking about how you'd answer that question right now, I get it. I get you. That's what we do right? We take care of everyone else first. So much so that we often file away anything we woulda, coulda, shoulda done for ourselves, because we have to do it for others.

Are you still with me? Understand that I am saying all of this with love. Truly. I know that you are an amazing person. You give so much of yourself to so many others and you've let your life "put Baby in the corner" (Yes that's a cheesy line from Dirty Dancing💃🏼🤣, but stay with me.) It's time to put you first. Yes I know that's so much easier said than done, but that doesn't make it any less true now does it?

If you are metabolically unhealthy (like 93% of us), there are foods that are toxic to your body. In order to stay alive, your body is desperately trying to fight these inflammatory reactions, which are causing you to develop a list of chronic diseases which are unfortunately going to get worse, unless you put you first. 

You need to make the decision to change; not one day. Today. Make today Day One. We've all heard the phrase, "Happy Wife, Happy Life" right? Well here's my version ... "Healthy Wife, Happy Wife, Happy Life"💖. 

So who's with me?  Send me a message to let me know that you're in! That you are ready to put yourself first.  That you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired and you want all of this chaos to stop now. If you're ready ... I'm ready too! (Oh and I have a super secret surprise heading your way on Black Friday that you are NOT going to want to miss!🎉🎉

Since you are still here and I'm a woman of my word who said I'd share some Thanksgiving tricks and tips with you, keep reading because they are up next! 

• Tip #1: Eat your protein first. Protein helps to slow down the rise in glucose, sort of like adding a big log to a fire that will burn for hours versus throwing a piece of paper on a fire that will burn up too quickly.
• Tip #2: Aim to fill at least half of your plate with protein. Yep! Protein - eat the turkey, ham, brisket, chicken, etc. and eat a good amount of it! From there, fill a quarter of your plate with non-starchy vegetables (vegetables that grow above ground) and a quarter with a fat source like cheese, nuts, and hard-boiled eggs.  If you'd like to enjoy a starchy carbohydrate source (sweet potato casserole, stuffing, green bean casserole, and so on), eat it last and only eat a small amount.  (Carbs are the only food you need to count or watch your portion sizes for, especially if you are metabolically unhealthy.)
• Tip #3: Try to eat a small amount of protein about 15-30 minutes before your Thanksgiving meal. This could be a hard-boiled egg, a bit of turkey, a handful of nuts (if they aren't triggers), or some cheese from a charcuterie board or appetizer tray. This works in two ways: You won't be ravenous and tempted to overeat by the main course, and your glucose will be less likely to spike drastically from the carbohydrates you do eat.
• Tip #4: If you do eat carbs keep this in mind, eat them AFTER your protein and fat and eat them in a limited amount. Since your blood sugar will rise when you eat carbs, we need a way to bring it back down.  To do that, go for a walk. That's right - grab the kids, the pets, the grandkids or go it alone - and walk … at a good brisk pace … for at least 15 minutes.

I'LL SHOW YOU MINE. WILL YOU SHOW ME YOURS? 👀

Here's what my Thanksgiving dinner includes:

1. PROTEIN - whether it's turkey, chicken, brisket … you name it! 
2. Instead of mashed potatoes - mashed cauliflower - with all the fixings! Butter, cheese, sour cream, sea salt, and even some bacon when I feel like it!
3. Green beans with chopped pecans and lots of butter (and yeah, I throw some bacon on these too!🤣)
4. Turkey chili - no beans - just lots of flavor
5. And for dessert - almond flour brownies and homemade ice cream. Hubby really likes pie, so I might be surprising him with pumpkin or pecan pie. Shhhhh! 🤫 Don't tell him! 🤐

So what's on your table?

Send me some pics of your Thanksgiving celebrations or post them on social and tag #SHNThanksgiving! No judgments! Just want to see happy faces, good times, and yummy food!

Congratulations!🎉🎉 You made it to the end so to thank you for sticking with me, I've got a super yummy dessert recipe that will be a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table!  Click here and be sure to let me know what you thought!

Have specific questions you'd like answered? Shoot me an email and your question may be highlighted in the coming weeks. 

If you don't make time for your health,
you'll be forced to make time for your illness.

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