Thanksgiving is not the time for deprivation (really there is never a time), but there are few simple ways to make it through the holiday without totally overdoing it. Remember to always follow your intuition as you know your body best and don’t let anyone ever make you feel shameful about that. 

1. Have More Than Just One Meal That Day 
   • Wake up with the intention of having breakfast and then a midday snack if you usually eat Thanksgiving in the early afternoon. If your family usually eats later and closer to dinner time, plan on having both breakfast and lunch that day.  Carry this mindset with you so you’ll be less likely to stuff yourself in one big meal.  Plus this is much easier on your metabolism and digestive system. 
   • Lemon Water x2 
     • Immediately, as soon as you wake up, consume a warm mug of lemon water to wake up your body and get him or her ready for the day.  This is an important practice to do every morning, but if it’s not yet part of your routine make sure it is on Thanksgiving morning.  Simply squeeze half a lemon into a mug of warm water, stir, and consume like tea immediately upon waking.  If you want to help your body and organs not go into overdrive after consuming heavier or more foods than normal, also incorporate a second mug of warm lemon water 30 minutes before you go to bed or once you’ve stopped eating for the day.  This will help your liver filter out any additional debris and will keep your intestinal tract clear as well.  Bonus:  Lemon water is phenomenal for our immune systems too! 
2. Splurge!  (On Your Favorites)
   • Thanksgiving is not a holiday built upon deprivation but instead on gratitude and showing thanks for what you have.  Take the opportunity to really enjoy the elements of the meal or pre-dinner appetizers that are your favorite items. Enjoy them and equally hold thanks for having the food available to you at that moment.  If you don’t splurge now and you end up feeling restricted, you are more likely to binge out later in the weekend.  Listen to your intuition and balance any splurges with smaller portions of your not so favorite items. 
3. Soup or Broth First
   • Enjoy a bowl of warm vegetable or bone broth before your big meal to support your digestive system and to help you from over doing it later on. Or if you are worried about consuming foods you don’t normally eat, this will help your body better handle the variety of foods and ingredients being consumed.  If broth or soups aren’t your thing, opt for an herbal tea before reaching for that glass of wine instead. 

1. Get Out and Move! 
   • Moving early in your day or an after Thanksgiving family walk may make you feel better about the food and rich recipes you are consuming that day.  Plan a family hike or yoga session to start the day and close out with a few steps around the neighborhood to soak in the changing seasons and temperatures. Plus, nothing feels more rewarding than consuming a big meal after a fun morning of sweating, laughing, and breathing in fresh air. The extra endorphins will help to ease any seasonal woes too. 

1. More Veggies, Less Problems
   • When in doubt load up your plate with at least 50 percent vegetables to make less room for “the other stuff.”  When selecting your vegetables or different casseroles you want to try, make sure to always eat the rainbow. Think carrots, bell peppers, green beans, leafy greens, brussel sprouts, and sweet potatoes. The more variety and colors on your plate, the happier you’ll be later on.  The extra micronutrients found in the different varieties of vegetables will aid in further digestive support and nutrient absorption later that evening too. 

1. Get Creative – Swap It Out This Year!
   • Let’s be honest, this year has been anything but normal, so why not switch up some of the standard items on your table too?  Offending your grandmother or the family recipe that’s been a generational staple is not the way to go, but do still consider what other recipes may have room for some adjusting. Swap out traditional uses of milk or creams for dairy-free options, opt for grilled green beans instead of green bean casserole, select turkey or meats that are grass-fed and free of hormones and antibiotics, and go light on the butter, salt and additional sugars. Check out some of these alternative Thanksgiving recipes for further inspiration:
     • 2020 Thanksgiving Vegan Recipe Round-Up
     • Minimalist Baker Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
     • Thanksgiving Vegetarian Favorites

The past year and a half to more frequently, eighth months, I’ve been crafting up a variety of mostly plant-based recipes all built around eating for the purpose of nourishing our bodies while still enjoying the foods we’ve taught ourselves to crave.  Such as desserts and relative to this recipe: cookies.
First of all, I would love to know a human being who doesn’t like cookies. Cookies are so versatile there is usually a flavor for everyone, they are easy to make and equally easy to consume, and they are just such delicious treats! Cookies typically carry an emotional bond for us as well, whether they remind of us of one of our first cooking experiences with our mom, memories around the holidays, or a visit to our grandmothers and getting to reach in her ever-full cookie jar.
​So with that, after some Instagram inspiration (because who isn’t inspired by constant food posts) I crafted up this delicious and simple 4C Cookie recipe.  The 4C in this recipe is because the main ingredients are chickpeas, coconut, chia seeds, and chocolate (or cacao).

4C COOKIE RECIPE:
Key Ingredients: Chickpeas, Coconut, Chia Seeds, Chocolate
*Please note that consistencies may vary as most do when cooking plant-based due to different products and ingredient lists. In addition, your cook time and oven temperature depends on your oven and ingredients you elect to use!! So be flexible and understand you may have to alter some amounts.
1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp coconut milk (or nut milk of choice)
1tsp baking soda
1tsp vanilla extract
1tsp chia seeds
Small handful of unsweetened coconut shreds (adjust to your liking)
Dark chocolate chips and/or cacao chips – (recommend always using dairy free and unsweetened)
Preheat Oven
1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor or high-speed blender (hold chips & coconut shreds)
*Note that if you are using a blender you may need to add a bit more liquid so as to not overwhelm the blender or add the peanut butter after primary ingredients are blended to a cookie dough like consistency.
2. Fold in chocolate chips and coconut shreds 
3. Form into cookie dough balls and place on baking sheet.
*I prefer to grease my baking sheets with a tiny amount of coconut oil
4. Bake cookies and allow them to cool for 7 minutes upon removing from the oven. Cookies will continue to cook while cool.
*2 suggested cooking options:
375 – 12 mins
325 – 25 mins
Suggested Variations To Recipe:
Below are a few different variations or twists that you can make on these cookies as well:
-Sub tahini or different nut butters instead of peanut butter
– Sub different nut milks instead of coconut milk. My second fav to cook with is cashew milk
– Sub honey or agave instead of vanilla extract
– Nix the chocolate and/or coconut shreds if those aren’t your thing
– Add a handful of GF oats for more of an oatmeal cookie vibe
– Add a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin spice to the cookie dough before baking
Enjoy and please share your cooking creations with me on Instagram at @thebrittolson – I would love to see them!