One shot, one kill

Thanksgiving may be the most notorious day of the year for second, third, and even more helpings. While it may be looked at as binging on any other day, it has become an acceptable practice on November 25th. If you are looking to keep off the pounds, however, you must refrain from extra helpings. Make it a one shot deal, and serve your dinner just one time. With just one attempt to make your dinner a successful mix of all there is to choose from, you are going to have to make it count.

Make healthy selections

If you are going over to somebody's house and are worried that all the selections will be fattening, you may want to bring some food you made yourself. You should definitely ask the host if bringing a dish is acceptable first. By bringing something you made, you will at least have one selection that you know will be healthy.

Finger foods and appetizers are usually a mainstay at many Thanksgiving gatherings. While they may be small in size, eating a lot of appetizers unconsciously will definitely make your caloric intake skyrocket. Be choosy. If there is cheese on display, only eat small amounts. The same holds true for things like nuts. If you're lucky, there may be a tray of veggies to choose from. If you stock up on these, avoid dousing them with fatty dips.

Now that the appetizers are out of the way, it's time to get down to business with the main course. It's best to start by adding vegetables such as green beans, corn, squash, etc. to your plate. They are lower in calories and will take up space that could be occupied by fattier choices. When it comes to turkey, opt for the white meat. Want to coat it in gravy? Hold off. If you absolutely must get your gravy fix, use it sparingly.

Next are what seem to be the favorites of many: the carbohydrates. You don't want to offend any of the cooks by completely skipping out on some of their prized creations. Therefore, you can select some carbs, but make the servings small for things such as stuffing, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, mashed potatoes, and the like. Many carbohydrate-filled side dishes present two problems. First, they are usually so delicious that your taste buds will crave more. Second, they are not as filling as other foods, so you can actually eat larger servings without feeling full. For these reasons, they must be given the least amount of real estate on your plate.