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Science & Medicine

Thanksgiving tip sheet: Scale back on the excess carbs this holiday season

When dining out, it's a good idea to decide ahead of time what you'll eat. You won't overdo it if you stick with one carb treat per meal. Go with a dinner roll. Or two glasses of wine. Or split a dessert. (Just not all three.)

When dining out, it’s a good idea to decide ahead of time what you’ll eat. You won’t overdo it if you stick with one carb treat per meal. Go with a dinner roll. Or two glasses of wine. Or split a dessert. (Just not all three.)  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Thanksgiving is just one day out of the year. But it’s what you eat the remaining 360-something days of the year really determines your pants size. Here are a few tips for scaling back on the excess carbs this holiday season so you can enjoy Thanksgiving (or any holiday) with family and friends:

Fruit juice alternative

Instead of drinking fruit juice, reach for the real thing. It’s easy to overdo juice.  (Lauren Burke / Getty Images)

Cheese plate options

A cheese plate is always a pleasing sight, and there’s no reason to walk by: Skip the cracker and have a piece of cheese on thin apple slices.  (Ray Kachatorian / For the Los Angeles Times)

Skip the bread basket

Beware the bread basket. It’s so easy to overindulge. One tactic: Think about the best bread you’ve ever eaten. If the bread in front of you pales in comparison, you can go without.  (Yula Zubritsky / Getty Images)

Shorter drinks

Those special holiday drinks are so hard to resist. So just be strategic. Buy the small size and skip the whipped cream. Or go for the fully loaded version but just have a few sips and ditch the rest. Wasteful? A bit. But it is one way to enjoy a rare indulgence without blowing your health goals.  (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

Guilt-free alcohol

Skip the sugar of blended alcoholic drinks and stick with a wine spritzer at parties.  (Brian Hagiwara / Getty Images)

Leave something behind

Instead of eating everything on your plate, leave some food behind. Our eyes tend to be bigger than our stomach, and there’s nothing wrong with leaving something on the plate.  (Sarah Palmer / Getty Images)

Hello, pie!

If you find yourself with a plateful of pie this holiday season, try eating just the filling and the edge of the crust. Or split a slice with a friend.  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

When resistance is futile...

But what if you find yourself facing a buffet table crammed with delicious desserts? Don’t panic. Strategize: Take a few slivers of the desserts that are calling your name, and enjoy a few bites of eat. Or split your plate with someone. And banish any feelings of guilt. Just get back on track in the morning and you are sure to have a healthful holiday season.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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