I hope you enjoyed a peaceful Thanksgiving Day. It was a delightfully different one for me. My family and I broke tradition and took up an invitation to a friend’s house for something new.

I’m a big fan of this typically meat heavy holiday dinner but to my turkey lovin’ surprise the part of the meal I enjoyed most was the fruits and veggies! 

We were served a gorgeous pear, pecan and greens salad, a to-die-for carrot and wild mushroom side dish, and the most spectacular homemade cranberry citrus sauce ever. Of course we had turkey, stuffing and potatoes but they quickly became condiments on my plate as they were overshadowed by the rich color and flavor of the vegetarian fare.

It may come as a surprise that a dietitian and yogi would need to be reminded of the glory of plant-based foods, but this Thanksgiving certainly did that for me. It also inspired this week’s tip, which makes a lot of sense coming off the celebration and adrenaline fueled shopping of the Black Friday weekend.

Even if we eat mindfully our bodies benefit from meals that are mostly plant-derived. The additional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants help abate stress as we ramp up our social schedules, brave colder temperatures (at least for those of us who get a real winter) and brace ourselves for flu season. 
No need to declare yourself vegetarian or vegan to implement a more plant-based diet. Simply try some of these ideas to explore the beauty and benefits of health-enhancing meatless fare:

- Play with different whole grains for breakfast like oatmeal or brown rice cooked with coconut milk.
- Keep fruit, veggies and nuts handy for snacks.
- Make a large salad for dinner adding protein with beans and/or cheese.
- Enjoy your favorite fish paired with quinoa and cooked greens.
- Stir-fry 3-5 of your favorite veggies in olive oil, add pine nuts or sliced almonds and serve over rice or pasta.
- Make veggie wraps with hummus, olives, greens and feta cheese.
- Have a Spud Bar with baked potatoes and fun fixins to top them with like cheese, scallions, salsa, butter or Earth Balance Spread, sour cream, cottage cheese, diced colored peppers, jalapeños or banana peppers rings. 

Don’t be afraid to have fun and try new things! 
Enjoy, Julie

Julie Norman, nicknamed "The Body Image Guru" by clients, guides women to live authentically healthy lives through peaceful body image, intuitive eating and mindful movement. She blends professional nutrition guidance with the wisdom of yoga to help women transform the ways in which they care for and experience their bodies. She maintains a private practice, REAL Nutrition, LLC, and is the creator of Body Karma Healing, a yoga-based program intended to help women transform body image from painful to peaceful. Julie believes healing individual body image pain helps us heal the world! Get started with her guiding DVD.