Don’t Make grandma cry on thanksgiving

It’s 3 PM—an odd time to be gathered around the dinner table. There’s more food than you can imagine eating in one sitting, and all your relatives are asking why you’re still single. Is this a weird dream? Not quite—it’s Thanksgiving. The turkey, stuffing, dinner rolls, and Aunt Carol’s “secret recipe” casserole are all present, though you secretly wish you could ban the casserole if only you knew what the secret ingredient was. You don’t have the heart to say so, though, so you just eat around it. Anyway, Grandma made pie, and you love her pies. But this year, you tell her you can’t have any because you’re dieting. You see a part of her soul crumble as she watches you eat a rice cake instead. It’s a sad scene.

Instead of breaking Grandma’s heart, let’s approach this differently. Yes, you have a fat loss goal, and no, pie isn’t part of your meal plan. But what is food made of, really? Calories—the dreaded "C" word. To stick to your diet, you might avoid sweets, skip the fatty cuts of meat, drink water, and measure out exactly four ounces of turkey breast with your trusty food scale (which doubles as your Thanksgiving dinner date). Congratulations—you’ve ruined everyone’s Thanksgiving and made Grandma cry.

Now, what if you realized that one day won’t derail your big-picture goals? Let’s say that, for one day, you don’t make progress—or maybe you even gain a little weight from your indulgence. Would that ruin everything? Absolutely not. Think of it like a road trip. If your parents suggest stopping by Grandma’s house for a day, but you’re so focused on reaching your destination that you refuse, Grandma ends up sitting home alone. Is it worth it? Of course not.

So, make Grandma happy. Unwind, be cheerful, and have some pie. Enjoy the day with family and good food. Your diet will still be there tomorrow, and one day of joy won’t sabotage your efforts. Have a happy Thanksgiving!