The No-Stress Thanksgiving Week

One day doesn’t ruin your week. Here’s how to go into Thanksgiving calm and come out of it feeling good.

By Tori Dunaway

Tori Dunaway working on her laptop

Thanksgiving week usually goes one of two ways. Either you try to “save up” by barely eating for days, or you decide the whole week is a write-off and you’ll start fresh in January. Both leave you feeling worse.

There’s no perfect week, and there doesn’t need to be. This is how I handle the whole week, from Monday to the leftovers, so you can enjoy the day with your people and not think twice about it.

Your week, day by day

  1. Monto Wed

    Eat like you normally do

    Don’t skip meals or cut carbs to “save up.” Showing up starving is how you end up overeating. Stick to your usual meals and get your protein in.

  2. Thumorning

    Protein breakfast and a walk

    Eggs and toast, Greek yogurt with fruit, or a protein coffee with a scoop of 1UP Vanilla ISO frothed in (code TORIFIT). Then go for a walk, alone or with the family. It’s not to burn anything off. It just helps you feel good.

  3. Thuthe meal

    Enjoy it

    Protein first, add color, keep the sides you love, plan your dessert. Then put the fork down and enjoy your people.

  4. Friday after

    Just a normal day

    No restriction, no punishment workout. Eat your normal meals and drink your water. If the scale goes up a little, that’s mostly water from the salt and carbs, and it comes back down in a few days.

  5. Satand Sun

    Turn leftovers into meals

    Use the three recipes below to make your leftovers high-protein lunches and breakfasts.

Leftover recipes

Protein numbers are estimates and depend on the brands you use.

~35g protein
Turkey cranberry wrap cut in half

Turkey cranberry wrap

Serves 1

  • 1 high-protein tortilla
  • 4 oz leftover turkey
  • 2 tbsp Greek yogurt mixed with 1 tbsp cranberry sauce
  • A handful of spinach

How: Spread the cranberry yogurt on the tortilla, add turkey and spinach, roll it up and cut in half.

~30g protein
A bowl of turkey chili with Greek yogurt

Leftover turkey chili

Serves 4

  • 1 lb leftover turkey, chopped
  • 1 can beans, drained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp chili seasoning
  • 1 cup broth

How: Simmer everything for 20 minutes. Top with a spoon of Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

~13g protein
Stuffing egg muffins on a plate

Stuffing egg muffins

Makes 12, protein is per 2 muffins

  • 1 cup leftover stuffing
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 cup egg whites
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese

How: Divide the stuffing into a greased muffin tin. Whisk the eggs, egg whites and cheese, pour over, and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes.

From my clients

After our week on macros, a client told me so many people in her life said she needed to cut carbs. Learning what carbs actually do for her body changed how she eats.

Another client hit her goal weight right before her wedding, the smallest she’s ever been, without cutting out the foods she loves.

Don’t wait for January

Start now, and you walk into the new year with the habits already built. In my 1:1 coaching I tell you exactly how much you need for your goals, build your training around your life, and check in with you the whole way.

Apply for coaching
Tori Dunaway

Hi, I’m Tori

I share the high-protein recipes, meal preps and What I Eat in a Day videos you see on my page. I coach women who are tired of hearing carbs are bad and want a plan that fits real life, holidays included.