Stay Trim And Still Enjoy Turkey Day

"Cornbread muffin, chestnut stuffin'

Pudding pie-one foot high-

All of us were thinner, till we came to dinner..."

Weight gain was not an issue I had to worry about when I learned this song in Kindergarten to entertain my family at Thanksgiving dinner, but nearly 20 years later, I don't find this verse quite as funny as I did then. If your family is anything like mine, there is enough food to feed an NFL football team at holiday gatherings. I'm talking about two turkeys, two types of stuffing, carrots dripping in cream, buttery rolls, several cans of cranberry sauce, green bean casseroles, mashed potatoes and even an occasional lasagna for the picky eaters. Then, our dessert table looks more like a Viennese hour at a wedding: four pies, cookies, ice cream, cupcakes, a homemade cake, and boxes of chocolate. Am I making you drool yet?

If your upcoming Thanksgiving feast is making you a little anxious about stepping on the scale the following morning, then I'm here to show you there are ways to indulge and enjoy this holiday without feeling like a stuffed turkey by the day's end. Try adding some of these to your menu this Thanksgiving.

Tater Trots: This recipe calls for you, a pair of sneakers (maybe a good sports bra) and a modest registration fee. There will be several turkey trot runs-ranging from 1-mile dashes to marathon lengths. To find one near you that fits your fitness level, search Active.com or check your local newspapers.

Corn Hole: If you plan to treat yourself to sweet corn on the cob, dripping in butter, you may want to negate some of those calories with this fun carnival-like game. It's actually become very popular among tailgaters.You'll need eight official bags and two boards, which can be easily built if you have any carpentry skills. Or you can purchase a set at PlayCornHole.org. This is also the best site for learning how to play and to consult the official rules. Yes, there are official rules, even leagues and tournaments for this, and while it sounds corny, this is not where its name is derived from. That comes from the corn bags, which you must throw onto the wooden boards to earn points. Similar to horsehoes, you stand next to one board and throw the bags at the opposing team's board, located several feet  (27 if your sticking to regulations) away. If it lands and stays on their plank, you get a point. Sink it in the hole and you'll get three.

Kan Jam: That's not a typo. You can't spread this jam on a piece of toast and you won't get the sugar rush that a helping of canned cranberry sauce will give you, but this dish will be much better for your waistline. This too has become a staple of the pre-game ritual for many professional sports spectators, as well as boozing college students, but I promise the game is still fun without the beer cans. All you need are two Kans and a frisbee. You can buy these at KanJam.com for $39.95, where you can also download the rules and learn more about the game, local tournaments and even how to be a Jambassador. (No joke.)

Turkey Bowl: Despite the name, this family-style dish calls for pigskin rather than turkey. It can make a great appetizer or you can serve it up after dinner. Gather your Mom, Dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, in-laws...anyone you can find and head to a local field, large backyard or even just a quiet street for a game of touch football. My family has been doing this for several years now. This feeds everyone's need for a calorie-burning cardiovascular workout, either before or after they pig out, and it's also a fun way to bring the family closer together, assuming there are no sore losers and excessively boastful winners.

Party Games Parfait: Time for dessert! You won't toast as many calories as you would running for a touchdown or finishing a 5K, but any game that gets you and your kin off the couch and moving around is better than slipping into a tryptophan-induced coma. Roll out the Twister mat, host a Wii tennis tournament or set up a series of silly relay races. (My family is partial to the one where you race to one end of the room and be the first to destroy a balloon with your derriere.) Stick with traditional games or be as creative as you want, just make sure it's one that will get as many people as possible active.

I've given you a buffet of activities to do this Thanksgiving to help you curtail weight gain, but you still need to keep your portions in check. No matter how many touchdown passes you run for, miles you log during a turkey trot or balloon-popping relay races you win, you still can't gorge yourself on everything in sight without wreaking havoc on your health. Consider bringing a healthy dish or tweaking your favorite holiday recipes to shave off some fat and calories. Check out these healthy versions of Thanksgiving grub from the Mayo Clinic.

And remember there is always tomorrow. Regardless of how much you eat on Thursday, your stomach will still be growling at some point the next day. If Aunt Sally tries to guilt you into a second or third serving of her stuffing, simply say "No, thank you," and ask if you can take some home. Eatingwell.com  and MedicineNet.com both have several recipes for turning your Thanksgiving leftovers into guilt-free meals you can savor throughout the following week, including salads, stews and sandwiches.

 So enjoy this holiday, indulge a little, but still make smart choices and stay active. Your stomach, your waistline and your skinny jeans will be grateful if you do and you'll stay fit, healthy and able to savor many more Thanksgivings to come.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!