Healthy Apps & Tips for Thanksgiving

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Odds are you have a hefty meal in your future.  Here are some tips and apps that might help offset the holiday 5!

1.  Eat early.  Data collected with Massive’s Health Eatery app suggest that eating earlier may help you make healthier eating choices.  In a recent interview with MIT’s Technology Review, founder Aza Raskin said, “We found that for every hour of the day people eat worse,” he says. “That’s very actionable: if you decide between lunch at 12 or 2, at 2 you’ll eat 4 percent worse.”

2. Track what you eat.  In the same interview, Pittsburgh nursing prof Lora Burke discussed research findings that suggested individuals using a food tracking app with notifications or suggestions to eat healthier actually had an easier time doing so.  Some food tracking apps include the Eatery, Super Diet Genius, MyFitnessPal, and Nutrition Menu.

3. Plan on eating out? There’s a healthy app for that.  Having healthy options give you a better chance of skipping unhealthy eats.  Try GoodFoodNearYou to find healthy options in your area.  Just make sure to call ahead to verify restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving!

4. Go veg! Vegetarian diets tend to be lower calorie, lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, and higher in fiber, potassium and vitamin C. Vegetarians tend to weigh less than meat-eaters, and to have lower cancer rates (NIH News).  Try the VegOut app to find veggie options in your area, or Locavore to find what delicious produce is in season for your Thanksgiving fixings.

5. Plan your healthy meal in advance.  Plan out your meal with healthier options using an app for your grocery list, like Grocery Gadgets.