“The turkey is roasting in the oven. The pies are cooling on the counter. And you may be telling yourself, “Thanksgiving Day is no time to be overly rigid about what I’m eating.”

Health experts say – you might have a point.

“I don’t want people overthinking their relationship with food during Thanksgiving, when the holiday should be about friends, families, being thankful and counting our blessings,” said Dr. Colleen Spees, an associate professor of medical dietetics at Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus.

Holidays tend to bring out all-or-nothing attitudes about eating, said Krystal Dunham, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Tulsa, Oklahoma. People are either “YOLO! It’s the holidays! I’m going to let all the rules go!” or “It’s the holidays, and I’m not touching anything unless it’s celery.”

“And I think there’s a way to exist in the middle,” Dunham said.

That middle ground allows for enjoyment, peace of mind and health, she and Spees said. And while some people, including those with diet-related medical conditions such as diabetes, might require more thoughtful planning, everyone can make simple, healthy last-minute choices that enhance the day.”

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/11/20/ideas-for-keeping-thanksgiving-healthy-and-happy