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Sticking to your low-carb and keto diet can be hard during the holidays, especially on Thanksgiving, when everything is based on food. However, it doesn’t have to be.
This post will give you tips and tricks to stay keto this Thanksgiving.
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Prepare yourself for what foods will be at the gathering by getting in contact with the host. This will give you a better idea of what will be there as a temptation.
After you know what will be at dinner, you can start planning what you will eat. Start planning how much of each dish you want to eat or try.
If you know you can handle one bite of something that you love that’s not keto, plan to do that.
However, if you know you won’t be able to take just one bite or want to stick to a sticker keto diet, stay away from those dishes.
Heck, if you go with someone, they could even make a plate of food for you, so you don’t have to be in front of those dishes as much.
If one of your favorite non-keto dishes is there, you could make a small dish of this for yourself.
Or ask the host if you could bring the same dish but a low-carb version. Therefore, others who may want fewer carbs could also enjoy it.
Check out this blog post I created that provides smaller servings of keto Thanksgiving dishes.
2. Ask to Bring a Dessert
One way to stay away from those extra carbs and sugar is to make and bring your own Thanksgiving dessert to the event.
If you know desserts are a big weakness for you, this will help you stay on track.
You could make your own single dessert or make enough to share with others.
I have a pumpkin pie recipe that serves 2 people. There are also pumpkin cookies that taste like pumpkin pie, that could be shared. The links here will take you to these recipes.
Here is a list of other Keto Thanksgiving desserts to check out by Fit to Serve Group.
3. Bring your Favorite Ketofied Dish
If you have a favorite Thanksgiving dish that is not low carb or even keto, make this dish and bring it to dinner. It can be enough for everyone or just yourself.
Or you could even bring a keto and low-carb dessert for everyone to try. Most of the time I’ve seen more than one dessert that others can choose from.
Wholesome Yum compiled all of her Thanksgiving recipes in one place. Check it out for some ideas.
I also linked the typical side dishes in tip #15 for keto recipes people enjoy on Thanksgiving.
4. Learn to Say No Nicely
Some people have a hard time saying no especially when a friend or relative really wants to share their dish with them.
However, it is okay to say no nicely to them. Let them know that you are eating a certain way to heal your body, or whatever you want to tell them.
There is no need to say okay to someone to be polite. You can stick to keto and still be a nice friend or relative.
This post from Very Well Fit helps you through the steps and tips to say no to food pushers.
5. Don’t Go Hungry
This is the same rule about going to the grocery, to avoid overspending money. When you go hungry to an event with delicious food, it’s even harder to say no to yourself.
You know that a certain food is full of carbs, but because you went hungry your motivation is not as strong as it could be.
6. Get Enough Sleep
When you don’t get a full night’s rest, your hunger singles are a lot higher (source). You will want to eat more food, and potentially more carbs, if you don’t get enough sleep.
7. Stay Hydrated
Sometimes it’s easy to confuse thirst with hunger. If you know that you gave yourself enough to eat, keep a glass or bottle of water by your side.
We know that water is the ideal thing to drink.
However, it can be pretty boring to only drink water, especially during a holiday event.
Feel free to have the drinks listed in the next heading.
8. Enjoy These Drinks
These beverages are keto friendly and can be enjoyed during your Thanksgiving event.
9. Load up on Turkey
Turkey is okay on the keto diet and is a great choice to load up on the Thanksgiving dinner table. Often times I have added butter to my slice of turkey.
10. Enjoy Low Carb Vegetables
Roasted Brussels sprouts are a great side dish you can load up on during Thanksgiving. However, please ask the maker of this side dish what they all used on the sprouts.
Some people may add sugar, honey, or even cranberries. If they didn’t have any sweeteners, they should be safe to enjoy.
For a 1/2 cup of the traditional green bean casserole, there are 6 grams of carbs (source). So this dish could be enjoyed while staying keto.
Another popular side dish of roasted cherry tomatoes provides 6 grams of carbs for 3/4 cup (source).
Often times people will bring in a tray of uncooked vegetables. Feel free to have some broccoli, cauliflower, and celery on these trays.
11. Keto-Friendly Thanksgiving Appetizers
Stick to eating keto-friendly snacks before the big meal. Below are a few common ones you may see. You could even bring some of these.
12. Believe in Yourself
Your attitude makes all the difference. When you go to the meal with confidence that you will make the right choices, you will more likely stick to your diet. Your mind is very powerful.
If you think you can, you can. If think you can’t, then you already failed.
Henry Ford
13. Visualize How the Meal Will Go
Thinking about what will happen when you arrive at the event will help you plan for harder times.
Think back to past Thanksgivings and see if you can think of anything that will be difficult to stay keto. Then, think of a way to help you through this situation.
If you know someone will try to make you try a dish, think of what you will say before it happens. Check out tip #4 for tips on this.
14. Load Up on These Thanksgiving Foods that You Can Eat on Keto:
- Turkey
- Various appetizers that can be found in tip #11.
- Green Beans
- Roasted brussel sprouts with bacon or asparagus
- Creamed kale or spinach made without milk
- Salads can be good to have but watch what kind of dressing is used as they can be filled with sugar.
15. Make an Entire Keto Thanksgiving Meal
Offer to host the meal at your house and make all keto dishes and surprise them with how good it can be. Or you can make a meal just for yourself and bring it.
Below is a list of keto recipes people commonly enjoy at Thanksgiving.