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    4 Stay-Slim Strategies for Thanksgiving

    By | Thanksgiving – Thu, Nov 12, 2009 11:22 PM EST

    Nutrition guru Lisa Young, R.D. reveals 4 easy tricks to keep you in your sexy skinny jeans while still enjoying all of the yummy foods Thanksgiving has to offer.

    Fancy Photography/VeerFancy Photography/Veer

    1. Don't arrive famished. Instead of saving your appetite for the big four o'clock feast, make sure to have a healthy breakfast and a light lunch (such as fruit and yogurt). Starving yourself earlier in the day will just lead to major bingeing - and uncomfortably tight pants - at dinner.

    2. Limit hors d'oeuvres.     Rather than blowing your calories on finger foods - after one mini quiche, a cracker with cheese, and a Swedish meatball you've already downed 230 calories - pace yourself. Dig into the crudités, have one or two of the must-try nibbles, then wait for the main event.

    3. Keep portion size in mind.
    Knowing what a serving really looks like will help you to set limits. Some useful visuals to keep in mind: one serving of turkey measures about the size of a deck of cards (tip: white meat has less fat than dark); one serving of stuffing, mashed potatoes, or cranberry sauce looks like half a baseball.

    4. Shift your focus away from the food.
    Instead of wondering when it'll be time for seconds, enjoy the company you're in. Get updates on everyone's family or career, bring some pictures of the kids/grandkids to show off, or exchange recipes.



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    Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.