Healthy Activities for Thanksgiving
Turkey, cranberries, stuffing and pumpkin pie. I think you all know what great American holiday meal I am talking about. That’s right, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is centered around a huge, delicious, homemade meal. After stuffing your face with your mom’s famous macaroni and cheese and pumpkin pie, you are the fullest you could ever possibly be. In honor of the feasts of all feasts, I have created a list of healthy activities you can do on Thanksgiving. Think of it as a way to prepare yourself for that delectable dinner that is waiting for you.
Start your Turkey Day with a 5k. In most towns on or around Thanksgiving there are numerous Turkey Trots or Gobble Wobbles. For example, in the Raleigh-Durham, NC area there are at least 10 races for you to choose from. All just to get you moving!
On Thanksgiving, there is another time honored tradition many Americans participate in: watching football. Why not take this tradition to a more active level and start your own family-friendly game of touch or flag football? What a great way to work up an appetite.
Go on a family nature walk or hike. Before the big meal, why not spend some time with the people you love and explore a beautiful park or greenway? Enjoying a morning hike is a great (and healthy) way to work up that turkey craving!
Play family games. This is a healthy activity, in a nontraditional sense. It’s healthy in terms of bonding with friends and family. By playing family board games, you spend time with your loved ones; you talk, (hopefully) laugh, and create new memories. By doing so, this creates and strengthens relationships, which is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Volunteer at a local soup kitchen. By giving back to your community, you give the best gift you can to someone, your time. Volunteering allows you to do something purely because you want, desire, or love to do it. This selflessness is truly what the holidays should be about. Through acts of generosity you can spread love and kindness, which fosters healthy lifestyles for all of those around you.
Cook Thanksgiving dinner together. In order to have a delicious Thanksgiving feast someone has to cook it, right? Why not make the meal together as a family? By cooking the dishes together you can work together to look up healthy recipes, create family desserts, and bond with your relatives. This is a natural way to spend time together and share the responsibility of the grand day, instead of one person (mom) slaving over the stove all day. Then when you come together as a family to eat, you all can appreciate and devour the meal you created together.
