Black Friday Survival Guide

There are tons of tips out there for how to handle Thanksgiving.  For example:

*Put a normal portion on your plate and wait 20 minutes before thinking of seconds
*Don’t skip meals just because it’s a holiday
*Go for a family walk or play outside at some point in the day
*Limit alcohol & if drinking, place it in your least dominant hand

I want to talk about Black Friday. You know, the day after Thanksgiving. When people wake up at un-Godly hours to wait in line for the stores to open so they can get all the gifts on their family’s wish list. It’s the day that most people spend hours preparing for what stores they will go to and when, yet don’t plan for meals or snacks. Thanksgiving day takes so much food thought we often space out on how to eat well for the days immediately following it.

Well, you’re about to get equipped with a Black Friday Survival Guide. So no more excuses!

Tip-1: Eat! Seems simple, but for many folks, they aren’t feeling too well from the day before. Some people feel guilty for overdoing it the day before and choose to skip meals to make up for their mistakes. That in itself, is a mistake.  You will be more able to “self-correct” any eating mistakes by getting right back to your set meal times. While you are minding the times the stores open, be aware of your meal times.
•    Eat breakfast within an hour of waking and continue to eat every 3 hours until bedtime

Tip-2:  Pack food in your bag. While organizing your store ads and circulars, toss a couple of snacks into your purse or bag. Some tasty ideas are: dried cranberries and almonds, cheese cubes and apple, sliced veggies and leftover turkey wrapped in a tortilla, and low sodium jerky and fruit leather.

Tip-3: Know your Lunch. Determine your lunch destination and check out the menu ahead of time. Find options that include lots of veggies and lean meat. Stay away from buffet restaurants and don’t be afraid to ask for modifications.

Tip-4: Wear your pedometer. Aim for 10,000 steps on Black Friday. Increasing your spontaneous physical activity will improve your mood, relieve some of the stress from dealing with the other shoppers, and help you manage your post Turkey Day food coma.

Have fun and Happy Shopping (or not, if you choose to abstain)!

Zen Food Corner
Leftover Turkey Recipes…click here