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5 Reasons to Eat Whatever You Want on Thanksgiving

By U.S. News & World Report

Warning: This is not your typical “don’t eat that” lecture from the food police. I’m not that kind of dietitian and Thanksgiving is not that kind of day. It’s the biggest food holiday of the year, darn it! It’s one day we are supposed to ditch food rules. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say I think it’s a matter of well-being to reclaim Thanksgiving as a day to joyfully feast — celebrating friends, family and life with some really delicious food. Here are five reasons why:

1. Feasting is not bad.

A feast is simply an abundant meal you eat in celebration. Throughout history, we have used food as a means to party. Alan Levinovitz, professor of philosophy and religious studies at James Madison University and author of “The Gluten Lie: And Other Myths About What We Eat,” warns against always thinking about food in terms of nutrition or health. “Food rituals are a crucial part of how we celebrate, mourn, gather together and create memories,” he says. “Feasts are one of those rituals, and fearing them — like fearing birthday cake — is evidence that we’re losing our holistic understanding of this amazing part of life.” When you stop thinking about food as potentially “bad” and start thinking of it as part of enjoyment, something magical happens. You just stop worrying so much. Food is there as part of the experience — and that’s it. Your mind is free to be happy and enjoy all the other goodness of the day.

[See: 9 Things That Are Surprisingly Good for Your Health.]

2. Feasting doesn’t have to be painful.

Just because you’re around an abundance of food doesn’t mean you have to eat so much of it that you literally hurt from the inside out. Remember that, especially on Thanksgiving, the food isn’t going anywhere. You have all day to eat food in a feel-good way. Your meal can last hours. You can put a break between first and second helpings, or between the meal and dessert. I like to eyeball everything on the table and ask myself, “What am I truly interested in tasting right now?” and build my plate from there. I’d rather take a little of everything and savor it mindfully, knowing I can always get more another time, than load up on the first thing I see right away. “Am I enjoying this?” “How full am I?” and “How do I want to feel when I’m done eating?” are good questions you can use to pace your eating and gauge when you should stop. It’s only when people mindlessly pile up food and devour it that they suddenly feel like they busted a gut. Mindful eating can help you avoid that feeling, but if you mess up, just take a break from eating and give yourself time to digest.

3. Feasting is about more than food.

What else is part of your Thanksgiving celebration that makes you feel more connected to other people and our planet? Do you participate in a turkey trot? Donate time or money to those less fortunate? Whether your Thanksgiving means more than turkey is entirely up to you. Even if you don’t have any history of non-food traditions, you can always start one. Here are a few Ideas:

— Give to others. Find a way to donate food, money, time or other resources to a community or family in need. Check local churches or community centers, or just surprise neighbors down on their luck with a gift card and wishes for a joyful holiday.

[See: 10 Good Deeds and Why You Should Do Them.]

— Pray before you eat. Find the most religious person at your table and ask him or her to offer a prayer. Or, if it suits you better, read a poem, book passage or other meaningful mantra to help center everyone’s hearts and minds before the meal. I find it particularly warming to acknowledge the labor that went into providing the meal — giving thanks to the farmers, the animals, Mother Earth, the chefs and the company around the table.

— Share gratitude. Pull out a jar and scrap pieces of paper. Ask your guests to share what they are grateful for or their favorite positive quote, song or movie lyric, bible verse or any other inspiration.

— Go play. If you’re lucky enough to have kids around, go outside and act like them. Take a walk, pick up leaves and acorns or draw with sidewalk chalk. When we play, we open ourselves up to creativity and optimism. Our laughter boosts our moods and we just feel good.

4. Feast on positive conversation.

There’s nothing more unappetizing than hearing negative comments at holiday gatherings. We all have that crazy relative who has no filter, but you can redirect that chatter instead of feeding it. How? Abstain from phrases like, “I shouldn’t eat this,” don’t call foods negative words like “fattening” or “sinful” and don’t comment on how much food someone takes, as in, “Are you really going to eat all of that?” Erase all comments like, “Oh my gosh, you’ve lost so much weight,” too. Even if you can’t control what your relatives say, you are in control of your words and judgments. A smile and an “I’m so glad you’re here” do wonders to neutralize the conversation without you having to say something that’s only going to fuel the fire.

[See: How to Enjoy a Stress-Free Holiday.]

5. Let the feast end.

The original Thanksgiving was meant to celebrate the fall harvest and it lasted several days — not one. I’m sure today’s 2,000- to 4,000-calorie plates would shock the pilgrims. Our Thanksgiving is just one day in the entire year. Most people who are used to eating balanced meals don’t want to overdo it. Follow what speaks to you and let the feast end. There’s nothing to make up for come Black Friday. Just go back to yourself — and do the things you always do to take care of you. Sleep, hydrate, move your body (yes, shopping counts!) and eat when you are hungry. You can reimagine leftovers if you want, but instead of reliving the overeating part, focus on balance. Stir a sliver of pumpkin pie into your morning oatmeal. Add fresh veggies to your leftover turkey at lunch. You’ll find that you really can stretch out the flavors of the holiday — without ditching your typical habits for more than a single day.

More from U.S. News

Holiday Vices: How to Have Fun Without Overdoing It

9 Holiday Health Hazards to Avoid

Thanksgiving on a Gluten-Free, Vegetarian or Vegan Diet

5 Reasons to Eat Whatever You Want on Thanksgiving originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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