10 Thanksgiving Ideas to Revive Your Celebrations

by Sandra Koury | Nov 27, 2024 | All, Fun, Home, Wellness

Thanksgiving is an ideal time to reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives. It is also a time to recognize that, for many people, this time of year evokes difficult memories and is a time when being with family is not as joyful as it might be for others.

Knowing that with every life there is a unique history, we would like to offer 10 ways to observe Thanksgiving that can be enjoyed by anyone.

Before we dive in, however, we’d like to take a moment to thank you, our gym members, blog readers, and social media followers, for your continued support. We appreciate your trust in our team, your commitment to health and fitness, and the feedback you share to help us give our best!

Thanksgiving ideas to Revive Your Celebrations

01.

Invite a Friend or Family Member Who Might Be Alone for Thanksgiving

Even if your invitation is declined, everyone likes to feel included. Try broadening your invitation list this year and spread some feelings of warmth and welcome!

02.

Try Something Other Than Turkey

Every Thanksgiving, approximately 46 million turkeys are eaten! Save some turkeys from the dinnerplate and try alternative meat or plant-based choices.

You can easily make a main course out of fish, chicken, pot roast, and other meats, or take the vegetarian or vegan route and use hearty ingredients like mushrooms, squash, potatoes, cheese, and cauliflower to craft some delicious courses.

03.

Try Hosting a Friendsgiving

This seems to become more and more of a common practice with every passing year. Friendsgiving is essentially a Thanksgiving dinner that brings together your friends, their friends, and new people who become friends, over good food and great conversation.

With larger events, try asking your guests to contribute to the table by hosting a potluck-style event. This also encourage a diverse dinner spread because everyone’s cooking styles, food choices, and palates are unique!

04.

Spontaneous Exercise Challenge

Agree on the selection of a word like “Turkey,” “Cranberries,” “Thanksgiving,” or “Gravy”
Have each person pick a number between 1 and 5
Have each person pick a basic exercise like push-ups, jumping jacks, or squats

Any time someone says the word you chose in step 1, everyone in the room has to do their selected number of their selected exercise. The number and exercise will stay the same throughout the evening, and you’ll have fun trying to find your way around these common Thanksgiving words!

05.

Plan a Pre-Event Gathering to Help Disperse the Workload

Plan a simple Pre-Thanksgiving gathering with your intended guests before your actual holiday feast. If you are able, walking to the store can help you steer clear of holiday traffic and impossible parking situations. Everyone can carry an item and even help you with some early preparations like decorating or cooking before the main event.

06.

Serve the Less Fortunate

Whether you’re getting together with others or planning to enjoy some time solo, serving others is a great way to participate in the Thanksgiving celebrations.

All you need to do is a quick internet search to find places in your area where you can volunteer. Don’t stop at serving food, however. If you can, sit and talk with the individuals and families who arrive to be served. Hear their stories, treat them like human beings, make eye contact and remember their faces. These small gestures can make a world of difference.

07.

Plan Ahead

Even your hosts want to enjoy the gathering of their friends and family. You can help make sure that no one is left in the kitchen while everyone else enjoys the festivities by offering your help at least once or twice.

If you are the host, try setting the table the night before. Lay out the plates, cups, napkins, and silverware, and any other items that don’t need to be refrigerated. This can help make your event day run more smoothly and with less last-minute scrambling.

08.

Agree to Leave Debatable Topics at the Door

Some gatherings are particularly difficult because of discussions that become debates and debates that become arguments.

Agree with your guests, prior to your event, that debatable topics should be set aside for the duration of your gathering.

09.

Start a New Tradition

There are tons of simple but memorable things you can do to start a new tradition. It can be something like watching a certain movie, playing a game everyone loves, or creating a handmade addition for your cornucopia and adding a new one each year. This one is especially fun for new families or couples who want to commemorate each year of holidays in a special way.

If you want to go a little further, try signing up for a Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Trot! You can find events in your area, here.

10.

Get Creative with Your Leftovers

In the United States, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28th. Canada celebrates early in comparison, and observed this holiday on Monday, October 14th. In either case, leftovers are a certainty with any feast.

Whether you’ve frozen your leftovers from the 14th or are expecting more than you can manage tomorrow evening, you can get creative with your leftovers and enjoy them in inventive ways. Check out these turkey ideas to put a fun and flavorful twist on your post-event meals.

For some delicious salad dressing recipes from our registered dietitian, read her post on Homemade Salad Dressings 101. Or, listen to our podcast to hear about how to navigate the path between Fitness and Food This Holiday Season. To access our monthly blog post highlights, subscribe to our newsletter today!

What is “Toys for Tots” and How Can I Participate?

by Sandra Koury | Nov 20, 2024 | All, Home

From time to time, LA Fitness clubs across the country participate in the efforts of non-profit organizations. A campaign you’re most likely to be familiar with at this time of year, is Toys for Tots!

By now, you may have seen some donation boxes at your local LA Fitness. If you haven’t been entirely sure what those boxes are all about, you’re in the right place to find out.

What is Toys for Tots?

Toys for Tots is a charitable foundation organized and run by the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve. Its purpose is to bring joy and hope to America’s economically disadvantaged children through the gift of a new toy.

During the months of October, November, and December, new and unwrapped toys are collected and distributed to the less fortunate children in our communities.

Their efforts are largely supported by the work of U.S. Marines, Marine Corps League Members, Veteran Marines, as well as a diverse network of volunteers.

How it Works

With the help of qualified social welfare and community agencies, Toys for Tots is able to identify the children in each community who would benefit from the toy donations.

Local businesses, like LA Fitness, then agree to host a space for toy collection boxes where people can donate toys. For several weeks, the boxes are available and accessible to all who wish to donate. The toys are then received by Toys for Tots, sorted, and distributed just in time for the holidays.

How You Can Participate

It’s easy to participate in campaigns like this one simply by donating a toy at the participating LA Fitness club nearest you. If you’re inclined to go a step further, you can do any of the following:

Apply online as a volunteer. Simply Find Your Local Campaign, and click on the tab that says: “Get Involved/Volunteer.”
Become a Toy Drop Site. If your local Toys for Tots coordinator is still accepting applications, you can register your business as a Toy Drop Site. All you have to do is Find Your Local Campaign, hover over the tab that says “Get Involved/Volunteer,” and then select “Become a Toy Drop Site.”
Host a Toys for Tots Event. Once you have found Your Local Campaign, another option under the “Get Involved/Volunteer” tab is: “Host a Toys for Tots Event.” Not all localities will have this option, but you can check if it is available in your area by following these steps.
Donate. Toys for Tots has a multitude of ways that you can donate. You can contribute funds, participate in employer matching, and even donate your car! Visit their site to see all the ways you can donate.

If you do not see a toy donation box at your local LA Fitness, keep in mind that Toys for Tots relies heavily on volunteer assistance and they may not have had the manpower to serve every interested business in the area. If you would like to donate a toy but are unsure where to find a drop site, you can follow these steps* to find the closest participating location:

1. Find Your Local Campaign

2. Select your state and county from the drop-down menus and skip to step 4, or click the red button to enter your address and continue to step 3.

3. A list will appear that will show you the campaigns closest to the address you entered. Click on the first one, as that will be the closest one.

4. You will be redirected to the Toys for Tots website for the state and county selected. Find the tab at the top of the page that says: “Ways to Donate,” and choose “Donate a Toy” from that drop-down menu.

5. Here, you will find a list of all the businesses in that county that have a toy donation box. To make things easier, you can filter the list by zip code.

If you do drop a toy into one of our boxes, snap a photo for social media to help spread the word and encourage your friends to do the same! We can all be part of a child’s happiness this season, so let’s aim to make a positive impact however and wherever we can.

Keep an eye on the Living Healthy Blog for more ways to settle into the season of giving. To access our monthly blog post highlights, subscribe to our newsletter today!

*Instructions are accurate as of November 14, 2019. Changes to the Toys for Tots Website after this date may not be reflected here.

Warm Comfort Foods Made Healthy(ish)

by DebbieJ MS RDN | Dec 12, 2023 | All, Home, Nutrition

When temperatures drop, it’s time to put on cozy slippers and pull up a blanket. A soothing plate to warm your belly doesn’t hurt… unless it’s unhealthy. Most comfort foods we turn to are heavily laden with fat, starch and calories. There are healthier ways to enjoy down-home classics by making a few tweaks. Try the following updates to your traditional favorites without leaving flavor behind.

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. This duo based on simple protein and starch can be loaded with saturated fat.

Meatloaf

Substitute 4 or 7% fat ground beef for regular.
Use whole wheat bread crumbs to increase the fiber.
Increase the diced onion, garlic or other vegetables.
Skip the egg yolks and “substitute two egg whites for every whole egg to help the loaf stay together,” suggests Emily McKenna Kennedy of EatingWell Magazine.¹

Mashed potatoes

Leave skins on potatoes for fiber that helps with satiety.
Decrease the dairy fat by using light sour cream, fat-free milk and less butter.
Add zest with extra roasted garlic, paprika and fresh herbs instead of salt.
Options: moisten with reduced-sodium chicken broth; sneak in mashed cooked cauliflower; whip potatoes for creamy texture.

Pasta casseroles (e.g. baked macaroni & cheese, lasagna) While tasty now, the cheese and white flour noodles may depress your mood later after you get on the scale.

- Increase vegetables by adding chopped cauliflower to mac ‘n cheese and sliced zucchini in lasagna.

Use lower-fat cheese (part-skim ricotta and reduced fat mozzarella) but concentrate flavor by adding an ounce of hard dry cheese such as Parmesan or pecorino.
To curb the need for salt consider a sprinkle of crushed red pepper for bite.

Chicken pot pie / Shepherd’s Pie It’s not just what’s under the cover that adds up here. With a thick crust or mashed potato layer, you can also blame the topping.

Replace cream with a blend of low-fat milk, white wine and olive oil for the pot pie sauce.
Use vegetable broth, olive oil and tomato paste for the shepherd’s pie sauce.
Double up on the diced vegetables for more volume with little calories.
Go crustless on the bottom by using an oven-safe skillet or nonstick casserole dish.

Biscuits and Gravy – This Southern breakfast that sticks to your ribs is traditionally full of saturated fat and calories.

Biscuits:

Using fat-free buttermilk and less butter, Cooking Light offers a recipe for low-fat biscuits (3 gm fat each).²We suggest omitting the honey for this savory dish.
Keep biscuits small (under 2”diameter) and serve only ½ C. gravy per 2 biscuits.

Gravy:

Substitute turkey breakfast sausage (or mushrooms for vegetarian) for pork sausage.
Use skim milk in the gravy and stir regularly until thickened.
Add extra herbs like fennel and sage for flavor when reducing salt.

Warm Apple Pie – Here is a double whammy! The crust is full of fat and the filling is full of sugar.

Gear up the ratio of solid fruit to the rest of ingredients.
Use fresh cooked apples instead of canned pie filling.
Make a lattice work or crumble topping instead of a full crust top. “Less crust on your pie = fewer calories from crust,” says Registered Dietitian Jessica Cording.³
Optional: top with a dollop of vanilla frozen yogurt instead of a scoop of ice cream.

Loaded Cheesy Potato Soup A thick chowder or bisque base isn’t the only culprit when the garnish can weigh in at a hefty hundred calories or so.

Substitute reduced fat sour cream for regular.
Try adding pureed cooked cauliflower to up the vegetable content.
Top with only an ounce of hard dry cheese or extra sharp cheddar for punch.
Top with just a sprinkle of fat-removed center cut bacon and plenty of green onion/chives.

Now you can take solace in knowing there’s a way to enjoy comfort foods without ruining your physique. Pick the changes you’d like to try, have a go at them in the kitchen and let us know your favorite updates in the comments section below!

Sources:

Emily McKenna Kennedy, “How to Make Meatloaf Healthier,” EatingWell. http://www.eatingwell.com/article/56415/how-to-make-meatloaf-healthier/ Accessed Oct. 1, 2018.
Maureen Callahan, “Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits,” Cooking Light. Nov. 2008. https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/flaky-buttermilk-biscuits Accessed Oct. 22, 2018.
Jessica Cording, “Brilliant Baking Hacks That Make Your Apple Pie Healthier,” Shape. 2017. https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/cooking-ideas/healthy-apple-pie-hacks Accessed Oct. 22, 2018.

10 Thanksgiving Ideas to Revive Your Celebrations

The Holiday Season can get stressful, so we may stick to a routine for the sake of easy planning. Try any of these 10 simple ideas to bring new life to your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Sandra Koury | Nov 27, 2024

What is “Toys for Tots” and How Can I Participate?

By now, you may have seen some donation boxes at your local LA Fitness. If you haven’t been entirely sure what those boxes are all about, you’re in the right place!

Sandra Koury | Nov 20, 2024

LAF, LA Fitness, Living Healthy, fall foods, winter foods, comfort food, nutrition, nutritional advice, healthy fall foods, healthy food, healthy recipes, recipes, quick recipes, fall favorites, healthy food substitutes, low calories recipes, healthy eating

Warm Comfort Foods Made Healthy(ish)

Most comfort foods we turn to are heavily laden with fat, starch and calories. There are healthier ways to enjoy down-home classics by making a few tweaks.

DebbieJ MS RDN | Dec 12, 2023

Is Sugar Bad For You? – Podcast Ep. 43

by Andrew Gabell | Oct 26, 2020 | All, Home, Podcast

Welcome to the 43rd episode of the Living Healthy Podcast.

On this week’s episode of the Living Healthy Podcast, we ask Registered Dietitian Debbie James the question “Is sugar bad for you?” This episode was recorded remotely right when the pandemic hit, but we are finally releasing it just in time for Halloween! As we enter the holiday season where sugary treats are all around us, it’s more important than ever to understand how sugar works with your body. On today’s episode, our guest Debbie James answers your burning questions including:

“Is Sugar Bad For You?”
“How is Sugar Connected to Diabetes?”
“How Much Sugar Should We Include in Our Daily Diet?”

SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR NEW EPISODES!

How Are We Doing?

Tweet us! @LAFitness using the hashtag #LivingHealthyPodcast
Email us at blog@fitnessintl.com.
Post a photo on our Instagram and using the hashtag #LivingHealthyPodcast

This podcast should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Timecard Markers – Is Sugar Bad For You? – Podcast Ep. 43

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