Thanksgiving is right around the corner — and with it comes the annual tidal wave of buttery casseroles, sugary desserts, cocktail refills, and the well-meaning family member who lovingly pushes a third helping onto your plate.

It’s a fantastic holiday, no doubt. Gratitude, connection, football, leftovers — all good stuff. But for a lot of people, it’s also a landmine for falling off the health wagon.

The good news? With a little prep and a solid mindset, you can walk into Thanksgiving feeling confident, grounded, and totally in the driver’s seat.

No guilt, no punishment, no falling into a food coma that lasts until Monday. Let’s break this down Horton-style.

1. Have a Solid Game Plan

Before you even step foot into the kitchen (yours or someone else’s), take a minute to strategize. What’s being served? What foods tend to hijack your self-control? Where do you want to indulge, and where can you hold the line?

This isn’t about restriction — it’s about intention. If you know mashed potatoes are your kryptonite, decide ahead of time how much feels good.

If you want dessert, awesome — plan for it. When you think ahead, you stay in charge instead of getting steamrolled by impulse decisions.

2. Move Your Body Early

Thanksgiving morning is the perfect time to get your sweat on. A quick HIIT, a run, a brisk walk, a yoga flow, or maybe a little Power of 4 — whatever gets your heart pumping, do it before the chaos begins.

When you exercise first thing, you boost metabolism, elevate endorphins, and mentally anchor yourself in healthy habits. It’s a powerful signal to your brain: I’m showing up for myself today.

3. Start With Protein and Veggies

Here’s where the rubber meets the road. When it’s time to eat, build your plate with lean protein and veggies first. Turkey, salad, roasted Brussels, green beans — these are your foundational foods. They help balance blood sugar, support digestion, and keep you from inhaling five rolls before your brain even registers what happened.

Once your plate has the good stuff, choose your favorite holiday dishes intentionally. Not everything needs to go on your plate — just the foods you truly love.

4. Slow Down and Savor

This one matters more than people realize. Thanksgiving isn’t an endurance eating event, even though a lot of us treat it that way.

Take your time. Chew. Taste the flavors. Have conversations. Breathe. When you slow down, your hunger cues have time to do their job, and you actually enjoy your food instead of inhaling it and wondering what just happened.

5. Check Your Mindset

Here’s the truth: You can totally enjoy yourself and stay aligned with your goals. One meal doesn’t define you. One holiday doesn’t undo your hard work.

What does matter is staying present, making conscious choices, and avoiding the “screw it” mentality that turns Thanksgiving into a 4-day binge fest.

Focus on gratitude. Focus on connection. Let your choices reflect how much you respect and care for your body — not some perfectionistic standard.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be consistent, mindful, and in command. sBecause at the end of the day, my friends, you are the boss of you.