12 Ways To Avoid A Food Coma This Thanksgiving

Gravy-drenched drumsticks, buttery mashed potatoes, and gooey pecan pie all sound scrumptious -- until you think about what they'll do to your waistline. While you shouldn't deprive yourself of all your favorite Thanksgiving staples, cutting back just a little and making some smart swaps can go a long way in maintaining the physique you've worked hard to build.

Try these 12 expert-backed tips to make it through turkey day without feeling like a stuffed, well, you know. 1. Eat before the big meal. Yes, you read that correctly! Showing up for the feast with a rumbling tummy is a recipe for over-eating, so be sure to pre-game by having a nutritious, low-cal snack.

A bowl of vegetable soup about one hour before mealtime should help tame your hunger, says Sonya Angelone, R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Picking at an appetizer veggie platter is a good option as well. 2. Dress to impress. Save your baggy, comfy clothes for another occasion. Instead, break out a form-fitting garment -- think skinny jeans or a curve-hugging dress.

Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet. If you can make it through the meal without having to undo the top button of your pants, you're in good shape. 3. Make single-size versions of decadent dishes. Want to be the perfect host? Add flair to the table and stop everyone, including yourself, from overdoing it by offering individual portions of the fattiest items on the menu, suggests Jackie Newgent, R.D., culinary nutritionist and author of The With or Without Meat Cookbook.

Pre-sizing eliminates the opportunity to pile those taters too high. 4. Don't worry, be picky. Before sitting down at the dinner table, have a few favorites foods in mind that you plan to indulge in -- and don't be afraid to change course if the first taste proves to be more "meh" than marvelous. Elisa Zied, R.D., author of Younger Next Week. Wouldn't you rather fill up on yummy fare rather than an average dish?

5. Make faux mashed potatoes. Can't limit yourself to a small scoop of these buttery spuds? Then bypass them entirely in favor of cauliflower. Tammy Lakatos Shames, R.D., and Lyssie Lakatos, R.D., aka "The Nutrition Twins." The similar texture and color will trick you into thinking you're getting the real thing.

6. Choose booze or sugar. Cocktails and dessert are usually both laden with sugar and calories, so pick a singular indulgence -- but still be mindful of serving sizes. Think one small piece of pie or a half-cup of eggnog, says Zied, will do the trick. 7. Mix up a 45-calorie cocktail.

If liquor and dessert are equally essential to you enjoying the holiday, at least choose your libation wisely. For a mere 45 calories you can have a "Fruity Tooty Spritzer," say Lakatos and Lakatos Shames: Simply combine 1 cup sparkling water, 2 ounces vodka, 1 tablespoon grapefruit juice and 6 raspberries.

Garnish with fresh mint leaves. For more better-for-you beverages, check out these 10 Healthy Holiday Cocktail Recipes. 8. Eat off colorful plates. Leave the fancy white china in the cabinet. Newgent. "Research has found that the more contrast between your food and plate color, the less you'll likely eat -- or overeat." Bring on the bolds! 9. Go to the back of the line.

Heading to a holiday buffet? Let others get their fill first. Karen Ansel, R.D., a New York-based nutritionist. As hard as it may be, fight the urge to be number one. 10. Choose appetizers that provide visual clues. If you tend to inhale your food without realizing how much you consumed, opt for nibbles like in-shell pistachio nuts.

Ansel. Chicken satay and shrimp cocktail are also good options, as you can watch the skewers and tails stack up. 11. Draw a clear finish line. Once you've had your fair share, reach for a "meal ender" to prevent you from picking at whatever's in front of you. Zied suggests popping a breath strip, sucking on a strong mint, or reapplying your lip gloss. Another trick: Pour some water on your plate so you won't want to use it anymore -- just make sure no one's watching. 12. Join the cleanup crew. Newgent. Plus your host will be grateful! I'm Exercising More -- So Why Am I Gaining Weight? Health and fitness articles to help you live a healthier, happier and more active lifestyle. Here's to a better you, for life!

Of the diet and his lifestyle, Robert once said, “I was never hungry and never missed a martini.” If that isn’t a meal plan for a bad decision maker like me, I don’t know what is. The basis of The Drinking Man’s Diet is similar to most low carb diets (Robert later took issue with the Atkins diet being “revolutionary” as his brilliant idea came first). But unlike the low-carb diets most of us know, there are a few differences: You can eat any meat or cheese you want—no low-fat restrictions here!

And instead of avoiding all carbs, you are to limit your carb intake to 60 grams a day. The fact that it’s a set 60 grams, no matter the dieter, is one of many, many red flags. Now, the biggest exception to the low-carb diet is that The Drinking Man’s Diet allows—and promotes even—drinking hard liquor. Robert had a pitch I couldn’t say no to: “Drinkers of the world, throw away your defatted cottage cheese and your cabbage juice, and sit down with us to roast duck and Burgundy.

Who could say no to that? So Sunday night I made a meal plan to start this ill-advised diet. Seriously, don’t try this at home. So much for meal planning! I realized Monday morning that I didn’t actually have any groceries, so I let myself eat carbs for one more day.