7 WAYS TO SAY YOUR ARE THANKFUL WITHOUT EATING

7 Ways to Say You're Thankful (Without Eating)
Article By: Estelle Sobel www.weightwatchers.com

A day to give thanks is a brilliant idea. Too bad it's stuffed like a turkey with high-fat fare. But food needn't rule the entire day. Here are some alternative ways your family can say thanks for the love you share.
Do you dread Thanksgiving, and the inevitable face-off with gargantuan portions? If so, you're not alone. We consulted Susan Newman, PhD, author of Little Things Shared: Lasting Connections Between Family and Friends (Crown, 1998) for advice on how people can use this holiday to focus less on food and more on connecting with their loved ones.

Each guest gets a notepad to write down the date and 5 or 10 things he or she is thankful for this year. Afterward, the notepads are read aloud or passed around the table. Find a safe keeping place for them, or have everyone bring theirs back next Thanksgiving. Over time, they may become precious mementos to be passed on to the next generation.

Scavenger Hunt.

Prepare a list of items to find around the house or neighborhood. The list might include a photo of your great grandmother, a favorite toy, a maple leaf, a shell, something written in a foreign language, and so on. For added fun, pair kids and adults together, or team up family members or guests who seldom see each other.


Family Olympics.

Organize relay or bicycle races for the children. Older kids can participate in field events using a football as a shot put and a yardstick as a javelin. Plan ahead: Make gold, silver and bronze medals from construction paper and ribbon.


Night at the Movies.

Bring some classic videos or DVDs to the gathering — after the feast, everyone can huddle and watch surefire crowd-pleasers such as When Harry Met Sally, Shrek, or It's a Wonderful Life.


Family Ties.

Design a family crest together. Later, the crest can be transferred to T-shirts or mugs.

Photo Finish.

After dessert, have everyone sift through boxes of old family photographs. Adults can help kids identify who's who and tell stories about them.


Kids at Heart.

If your kids don't believe you when you say, "I was young once, too," use Thanksgiving to prove it. Have adults bring a videotape or movie reel of themselves as children to watch before or after dinner. Or, ask couples to bring their wedding videos, and point out significant guests to the kids.