Eating to satisfaction is the cornerstone of Intuitive Eating.

When you feel satisfied, you eat an amount that feels right for you at that moment. You also feel content, nourished, and even spacious because you’re eating foods that you like and that taste good to you.

Only you will know what satisfaction feels like in your body.

Thanksgiving is an awesome opportunity to practice eating to satisfaction. And, for obvious reasons, may be even more challenging.

Here are a few things to practice.

You can:

1. Eat foods that would have been off-limits in the past. Remind yourself that you can also enjoy these foods tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.

2. Enjoy these foods without guilt or shame.

3. Wear comfortable clothing.

4. Let go of standard portion sizes.

5. Fill your dinner plate with foods that you're curious to try, will enjoy, and will make your body feel great.

6. Be aware of your environment and notice people, memories, expectations, overwhelm, and responsibilities that may move you off your center. How can you be gentle with yourself?

7. Not finish everything on your plate. Wrap it up and save it for later or throw the food away.

8. Invite yourself to challenge any "shoulds" and explore if they still feel right to you. “I should make my grandmother's apple pie.” “Everything should be perfect.” “We should eat dinner at a certain time of the day.”

9. Notice a part of you that may want or need to burn extra calories in advance of Thanksgiving dinner. Can you replace that with moving in a way that's inviting and fun for you?

10. Pause every once in a while throughout the day and take some deep breaths. Notice what you're experiencing in your body. Check in with your hunger and fullness signals.

11. Rest often. Take a 10-15 minute, or hour-long nap. Take a break. Give yourself some downtime.

12. Eat pie for breakfast (thank you for this suggestion Evelyn Tribole!).

And if you're brand new to Intuitive Eating, let yourself stumble and fumble. It takes practice and time to unlearn outdated patterns of food restriction and restore connection with yourself and your body. You get to do this imperfectly!

Have a peaceful and lovely Thanksgiving!