Last week, yours truly, the Clean Eating Coach, blogged about how important it is to create a Thanksgiving meal plan in advance if we’re serious about eating clean and avoiding unnecessary weight gain. It’s easy for any of us to create a less than healthy meal that’s full of fat, sugar and calories that can unknowingly pack on the pounds.  Doesn’t it sometimes feel like ignorance is bliss if we really don’t know how many calories something has?

The great news is that the pre-planning I mentioned can make all the difference once the holiday is over, your clothes still feel comfortable and you haven’t gained weight!  And there’s a way to prepare your Thanksgiving meal that is simply delicious — a clean eating version of Thanksgiving where you don’t feel like you have to give up flavor and enjoyment.

One of the key components to making this all happen is to shop early and have a comprehensive list. There’s nothing worse than starting your Thanksgiving shopping the day before, not having a clear idea of what you need,  and having to make repeated trips to pick up things you forgot.  I definitely have done that in the past, that is, before I got hip to the power of holiday meal planning and keeping a budget in mind. Large crowds make just-in-time shopping inefficient, not to mention that there’s less selection and it can cost more if you’re not exactly sure what you need.

I’ve made a short video with some tips on how to make the most of your Thanksgiving shopping trip and get into action now. With a week to go until Thanksgiving, there’s still plenty of time to make your list, check it twice and get what you need without the hassles of the crowds.

 

What will you do to get into action right away and get set with your plan?  When will you do your shopping and how will doing it in advance help save you time and money?

Filed under: Food Shopping, Healthy Meals, Meal Planning, Thanksgiving, clean eating