Thanksgiving foods to avoid before your turkey trot

With Thanksgiving just days away, it’s hard not to get excited about your favourite holiday dishes—roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and, of course, pumpkin pie for dessert. You might also be planning a run along your favourite scenic trail, now that the crisp autumn weather has arrived. To make sure you can enjoy your turkey trot without any post-feast regrets, here are a few foods you might want to go easy on the night before your run.

Stuffing

Indulging in some stuffing might seem like the perfect way to carb-load, but it won’t benefit your run as much as you’d think. The white bread typically used is high on the glycemic index, meaning it causes your blood sugars to spike, and then crash. Opting for complex carbs, such as squash or sweet potatoes, will raise your blood sugar slowly, supplying you with more energy over an extended period of time.

Mashed potatoes and gravy

Your favourite mashed potatoes and gravy might be loaded with sodium, which can leave you dehydrated during a run, and fat, which takes longer to digest and could still be sitting in your stomach. This is especially true if you’re using boxed or canned potatoes. Making these dishes from scratch lets you cut back on added salt and butter, helping avoid any belly troubles.

Turkey drumsticks

Turkey is a lean protein that can help with muscle repair without being really high in fat–if you eat white meat (over dark). The dark meat and turkey legs are lower in protein and higher in fat, making them less ideal, and the skin is the fattiest part entirely. If you’re prone to having a sensitive stomach on a run, sticking to primarily white meat can help you avoid that sluggish feeling.

Cruciferous vegetables

Veggies that are part of the cruciferous family are high in fibre; this includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale. Fibrous foods can increase bloating, cause digestive discomfort and even leave you dehydrated–all things you don’t want to deal with when exercising.

Overall, avoiding overeating and straying from your regular pre-run foods are the best ways to ensure you don’t feel like a turkey when you hit the trails.

posted Saturday October 12th
by Running Magazine