PEORIA, Ill. – Families and friends will gather around the table for traditional Thanksgiving meals consisting of turkey, stuffing, vegetables, and more.
A registered dietitian at OSF Healthcare says there are ways to still eat healthy at your meals.
Sara Umphfleet says it’s a good idea to survey and see what’s available, especially at potluck style meals.
“Choosing some of those healthier options, things like extra vegetables, corn, peas and potatoes, but making sure you have appropriate portion sizes,” Umphfleet says. “Filling up your plate with also a meat product,” she says.
Umphfleet says people should also use moderation when filling up their plate, and not overdo it with portions. She says that includes choosing just a little bit of what you like and to savor your food, along with not eating food you know you won’t enjoy. And to have a snack if you know that you’ll have a long wait for the Thanksgiving meal.
Umphfleet also says alcohol should be consumed in moderation, with one drink for women and two drinks for men, along with drinking water to prevent dehydration.
Most people will have leftovers after the meals are done. Umphfleet says there’s a timeframe for long you can safely keep them.
“Leftovers should only be saved for about three to four days,” Umphfleet says. “And they need to be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 also.”
Umphfleet says data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that one in six Americans get food borne illnesses or food poisoning each year.
