Thanksgiving is what I like to call a “holiday meal battlefield.” I used to get just pummeled by it. I mean, I ate and ate and ate more. I ate ALL the wrong foods even in meals leading up to the giant one. I seriously used to plan my outfit around what would expand and dear god, please not contract. Not only did I blow up from the food, I drank all the wine I could find. But, with my heart and body full of gratitude, I know now, that this can be a delicious meal with NO BLOAT and food comas are a thing of the past.
Here’s how I do it now:
Water. I now know and fully understand that even with all the healthy dishes I make, this is still a meal that can be dehydrating. There’s some science behind this, the combination of so many starches and roasted meats primarily, are moisture suckers from nearly every segment of the digestion process. This does not even take into consideration the addition of sugars and alcohol, which of course do not help at all. SO, do yourself a solid and start hydrating the DAY BEFORE Thanksgiving. Drink, drink, drink as much water as you can take. I cannot tell you enough how much this will help you process the upcoming bomb of a meal.
I use no (cow’s) dairy, gluten and very little to no sugar in the entire meal – and it is delicious. Instead of cow’s milk or cow’s cheese, I use goat’s milk, butter and or cheeses. Goat’s milk has significantly smaller lipids and is much easier to digest. I also use oat milk, or almond milk as a substitute in recipes that call for milk. For example, mashed potatoes are a combination of small white skin potatoes, roasted garlic, goat butter and chicken stock and pumpkin pie is made with oat milk. For stuffing I use a homemade or bakery bought whole grain bread made with heritage grains OR a store-bought gluten free stuffing base (cubed bread). I add zero sugar to yams – they are already so sweet, I simply bake them, Hasselback style with a mixture of melted goat butter, fresh squeezed orange juice, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
Eat a salad or a whatever GREEN vegetable before you eat any carbs or meat. The ingestion of salad greens or other greens (even green beans) will help slow down the absorption of the simple carbs (breads, sugars, cheesy items, etc.). By slowing down the absorption of the carbs and fats, you will not get, well, as bloated.
Walk Walk Walk – walk both before and after your meal. So, SO many studies have shown that even a simple 10-minute walk after a meal not only helps you digest your food, but lessens the adverse effects of fatty and carby foods. The walk or most any activity ahead of time, gets your blood moving and will aid in digestion.
Have dessert after you walk. This is huge – it really helps both reduce your sweet tooth craving and will help digestion of yet another course.
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