Planning to skip breakfast or lunch on Thanksgiving Day to compensate for those extra helpings of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie? Not a good idea, say diet and nutrition experts.
According to a report on the
LiveScience Website, forgoing morning and afternoon meals to save room for a big holiday feast in the evening is not the best strategy to avoid packing on the pounds.
When people skip meals, they end up feeling so hungry by dinnertime that they are far more likely overeat, said Katherine Tallmadge, a registered dietitian and op-ed contributor to LiveScience.
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"It's a big mistake to fast before a big meal at a party, or at Thanksgiving dinner," said Tallmadge. "You're ravenous, and you just eat like crazy. You're completely irrational."
A better option: Eat a regular breakfast and lunch on Thanksgiving, which will reduce the likelihood that you will go overboard for dinner.
Even if you eat more than usual at a Thanksgiving dinner, you're likely to eat fewer calories overall than if you ate only one huge meal Thursday, she said.
Another tip: Eat only limited portions of your three favorite, high-calorie foods, but load up on the vegetable side dishes, Tallmadge said.
Talmadge also said that it's OK to indulge a bit on Thanksgiving.
"Splurge on Thanksgiving Day, but get back to normal, healthy eating immediately," she said.