It’s that time of year, the holidays are here along with all the “bad fixings”. Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday for multiple reasons. It’s time with my family, time to stop and be thankful, and it’s the peak of the rut in our neck of the backwoods. But this is the holiday where most people start their downward spiral of consuming highly processed sugar-containing foods which lead to weight gain.

      I was raised in the south on southern foods. You name it, it was on our tables…..casseroles, fudge, stuffing, pies, cookies, skillet corn bread, etc. and a whole lot of sweet tea. Don’t give in! Set yourself up for success and not failure. Remember that uncomfortable bloated miserable stuffed feeling that follows your binge, it’s not worth it. It may seem like it is at the moment as your tongue goes nuts, but the repercussions are too much to pay for.

     Get a head start and make the right type of calories count for you. Keep your Thanksgiving dinner as wholesome and clean as possible.  Maybe start this week off with a low carb diet because I know most of you will be on a carb crave come Thursday.

     Here is an example of what I do. I will consume only lean meats and greens throughout the beginning of the week. On Thursday, after my morning hunt, I perform a circuit training workout with some trail running mixed in. Then, when it comes to feast time, I put only smoked turkey on my plate and walk away from the kitchen. At night, I reward myself with my Hunt Strong Signature Vanilla Bean Sweet Potato Mash recipe.

Vanilla Bean Sweet Potato Mash

    Ingredients: (Serves 4 to 6)

9 medium sized sweet potatoes

2 vanilla beans

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1. Cook sweet potatoes on grill over medium heat until soft.

2. In a saucepan, bring 1/4 cup of water to a boil. Add vanilla beans and remove from burner. Let stand 15 minutes. Remove beans from water and place on cutting board. Split beans lengthwise with a knife and remove the insides. Set aside.

3. Peel skins of sweet potatoes and place potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Mix potatoes thoroughly with a hand mixer. Add inside of vanilla beans, cinnamon, and nutmeg to potatoes and mix well until blended. Place in a serving bowl and devour.

     Eat as much mash as you want, for this fills your energy stores to help some of you shop longer on the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday. In my case, it’s energy to hopefully haul out a mature buck. Enjoy, Hunt Strong, and Good Luck!

Happy Thanksgiving