Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating family, friends, and -- of course -- food. But as we reflect on the things that we are most thankful for this holiday season, don't forget the importance of good health. Although it may seem difficult to meet our diet and exercise goals during the holiday, there are some simple steps that can be taken to stay healthy while fully enjoying the festivities. Here are 10 tips to ensure a happy and healthy Thanksgiving for you and your loved ones.
Thanksgiving 2010: 10 Tips For A Healthy, Happy Thanksgiving Holiday
Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A. (ret.) is the Director of the Health and Medicine Program at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C., a Clinical Professor at Georgetown and Tufts University Schools of Medicine, Chair of the Global Health Program at the Meridian International Center, and Senior Policy and Medical Advisor at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. Dr. Blumenthal served for more than 20 years in senior health leadership positions in the Federal government in the Administrations of four Presidents, including as Assistant Surgeon General of the United States, the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Women's Health, as a White House Advisor on Health, and as Chief of the Behavioral Medicine and Basic Prevention Research Branch at the National Institutes of Health. She is the Public Health Editor of the Huffington Post. Admiral Blumenthal has received numerous awards including honorary doctorates and has been decorated with the highest medals of the US Public Health Service for her pioneering leadership and significant contributions to advancing health in the United States and worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2009 Health Leader of the Year Award from the Commissioned Officers Association and was recently named a 2010 Rock Star of Science.