Get in a Good Morning Workout:  Get your heart racing early with a good cardio workout.  Your metabolism will get fired up,  you’ll torch some calories and you will be in the right mindset to eat healthy during the day.

Make Sure To Eat Breakfast:  Just because it’s Thanksgiving, you should not skip breakfast in attempts to save your calories for the Thanksgiving meal.  Skipping breakfast will cause you to be hungrier later on, making you more likely to overindulge.  Eating a good, fiber and protein-rich breakfast will get your metabolism started early and keep you feeling satisfied.

Don’t Snack As You Cook:  If you are the host this Thanksgiving, you are likely to be spending hours in the kitchen.  But, be careful not to pick at the food you’re preparing, as those extra calories can add up.  People often underestimate how much they are actually eating when they pick at the food as they make it.

Homemade is Better Than Packaged: Be wary of canned products, as those often contain a lot of sugar, sodium, and preservatives.  Stick to homemade sides- your waist (and taste buds) will thank you!

Don’t Crowd Your Plate:  When it’s time to eat, go easy on the portions.  Stick to 2-3 of your favorite sides, as you’ll be less likely to overeat when there is less variety.

Eat Slowly: Eating slower not only gives you more time to savor and enjoy your food, but you will actually end up eating less because you’ll feel fuller sooner.

Hydrate – A lot of us mistake hunger for thirst, if we are properly hydrated we are less likely to overeat or make the wrong choices.

Avoid The Skin:  Avoid the skin on the turkey as it is loaded with fat and calories.

Be Thankful For Family:  Thanksgiving is about being thankful.  Focus on being thankful for family and loved ones, rather than making the food be the focus of the day.

Be Realistic:  Everyone deserves to enjoy a Thanksgiving day full of the comforts of family and good food.  Don’t deprive yourself, but just make sure to be smart about the choices you make.