By Carleton Rivers, RD

Did you know that there can be many health benefits to a Thanksgiving Day meal? By eating from a variety of dishes your body is able to receive a bunch of different nutrients that it might not normally be getting. The Thanksgiving Day meal is also great because it is a time when people can sit down and enjoy their food and the friends and family that may be gathered around their table. Take advantage of this joyful time and savor your meal; eat slowly so that your body is

Quick Tips

Eat slowly

Listen to your body's cues

Stick to small portions of high calorie foods

Move after your meal

Fix lighter versions of classic recipes

able to fully digest the food you are consuming. With that said, listen to your body. Your stomach will tell you when it is full.  Another tip that may help you from going overboard this Thanksgiving is to control your portion sizes. For example, if you think a food is high in calories or sugar, only serve yourself one small portion of that particular dish.

For many people, the end of a Turkey Day meal means the start to the annual family nap. This is partly due to the high amounts of tryptophan that are found in turkey meat and partly due to the large quantity of food that people consume. Instead of reaching for a pillow, grab your walking shoes and enjoy a nice stroll or roll around the block to take in the fall season.

Whether you are in charge of making the entire Thanksgiving Day meal or just need to fix one dish, check out the tasty but light recipes listed below. Happy eating!