Be Thankful for your health!

When it comes to avoiding overeating on Thanksgiving, my best portion control tip is to eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and eat a lot of vegetables.  Your side dishes can be made with organic ingredients, and remember that you don't have to overeat just because it's Thanksgiving.  You'll enjoy yourself more if you don't.

I have heard that the Friday after Thanksgiving is the biggest day for appendicitis all year.  Appendicitis can be caused by fecal matter backing up into the opening of the appendix, so if you'd rather avoid that, it's best not to overeat.

As a fitness professional and nutritionist, I can say for certain that skipping breakfast in order to eat more (or to "balance" the number of calories you'll eat later in the day) is not a good idea.  Your eating habits shouldn't change just because it's a holiday.  Healthy living is a lifestyle, not something you do sometimes and not others.

As far a boosting protein intake in the morning, it's not necessarily beneficial.  Your body relies on carbohydrates to start your day.  Fuel up with something like organic fruit.  Even on a holiday, eat a normal lunch.  I believe in eating clean, and as raw and natural as possible.  I have something like hummus with raw crackers and vegetables.

Starting the big meal with a bowl of soup or salad may be a good idea to control your appetite, but not if it's a creamy soup or a salad loaded with store-bought dressing.  The best thing to have would be a large, organic salad with some olive oil and sea salt.

The healthiest way to eat turkey is to eat a healthy turkey.  You should source a local, organic turkey if possible.

The healthiest dessert?  No dessert at all.  Most holiday desserts are ridiculously calorie-dense and full of additives, preservatives, and toxins.

On Thanksgiving, be thankful most of all not for the fact that you can pig out (which, frankly, most people in America can do any time they want.)  Be thankful instead that you have a working, healthy body, and express that thankfulness by treating it well--eat healthy, exercise, drink water, and sleep.