15 Foods to Avoid If You Want to Stay Awake After Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving dinner is known for delicious, comforting foods that often leave us feeling drowsy and ready for a nap. While this post-meal sleepiness can be cozy, it can also make it hard to enjoy the rest of the day with family and friends. Some foods are especially known for causing that tired, sluggish feeling due to their high content of tryptophan, carbs, or sugars.
If you want to stay energized and alert after your Thanksgiving meal, there are certain dishes you might want to avoid. Here’s a look at 15 foods that could leave you reaching for the couch instead of joining the after-dinner fun.
Turkey
Turkey is a classic Thanksgiving main dish, but it’s also packed with tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleepiness. When combined with the carbs in typical side dishes, tryptophan has an even stronger effect, making you feel sleepy after your meal.
Turkey is delicious, but if you’re trying to stay alert, consider swapping a portion of it for another protein, like ham or chicken. The white meat in turkey has slightly less tryptophan than the dark meat, which could help a little. However, limiting your portion may be the best approach if you’re determined to stay awake.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, but their high carb content can cause a spike in blood sugar followed by a crash, leading to drowsiness. The creamy butter and milk added to mashed potatoes add to the heavy feeling that can make you want to snooze.
If you love your potatoes, try eating a smaller portion or balancing them with some green veggies. You could also swap mashed potatoes for a lighter option like roasted sweet potatoes, which contain fiber that helps prevent a sugar crash. Sticking to a moderate portion can help you avoid that sleepy feeling.
Stuffing
Stuffing is one of the most beloved side dishes, but it’s also filled with bread, which is high in carbohydrates. Carbs turn into sugar in the body, leading to a quick spike in energy followed by a drop, which often results in drowsiness. Traditional stuffing recipes also often contain butter or sausage, making them even heavier.
If you want to stay alert, you might want to have a small portion or try a lighter version with whole-grain bread and veggies. Adding some herbs and spices like sage and thyme can enhance flavor without the extra calories.
Gravy
Gravy adds flavor to almost everything on your Thanksgiving plate, but it’s also heavy and high in fats. Fat takes longer to digest, which can make you feel sluggish as your body focuses on breaking it down.
Many gravies are also made with flour, which adds carbs that can lead to a sugar crash. A small drizzle of gravy might be okay, but using too much can weigh you down. For a lighter option, try making a gravy with vegetable broth or using herbs to add flavor without all the fat.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce brings a sweet, tangy flavor to Thanksgiving dinner, but it’s often loaded with sugar. This high sugar content can cause a quick spike in energy, but that spike is usually followed by a crash, leaving you feeling tired. Many store-bought versions have added sweeteners, making them even more likely to lead to drowsiness.
If you make your own cranberry sauce, try reducing the sugar or using natural sweeteners like honey. Moderating your portion size can help you enjoy the flavor without the sugar crash.
Dinner Rolls
Soft and fluffy dinner rolls are hard to resist, but they’re also high in refined carbs. Refined carbs can cause a quick rise in blood sugar followed by a drop, which can lead to sleepiness. Adding butter or jam to your rolls only increases the likelihood of feeling sluggish afterward.
If you want to stay alert, consider skipping the rolls or choosing whole-grain options. Another idea is to replace rolls with a side of vegetables to help keep your energy steady.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is often topped with marshmallows and sugar, turning this side dish into a sugary treat. The sugar can lead to a quick spike in energy followed by a crash, causing that sleepy feeling.
While sweet potatoes on their own are full of fiber and vitamins, the added sugar can overwhelm their health benefits. Try a savory version of sweet potatoes by roasting them with herbs for a lighter option. This way, you can enjoy the flavor without the sugar overload.
Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a rich, creamy favorite that’s hard to resist, but it’s also packed with carbs and fats. The pasta can cause a blood sugar spike, while the cheese and butter make it heavy and filling.
This combination often leads to drowsiness, especially after a large meal. If you’re looking to avoid that sleepy feeling, consider having a smaller portion or opting for a veggie-based side instead. A cauliflower-based mac and cheese could provide a similar taste without as many carbs.
Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole may sound like a healthy option, but the creamy sauce and fried onions on top can make it quite heavy. The added fats from cream and fried toppings can slow down digestion, leading to that sluggish feeling.
Green beans themselves are healthy, but the added ingredients in this dish are what contribute to post-meal drowsiness. If you want a lighter alternative, try roasted green beans with a sprinkle of almonds. This version retains the flavor without the added heaviness.
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving dessert favorite, but its high sugar and cream content can make you feel tired. Sugar causes a quick energy spike, and the fat in the crust and filling adds to the heavy feeling. If you want to stay alert after dinner, try having a smaller slice or opting for a lighter dessert.
You could also make a crustless pumpkin custard to enjoy the flavor without the extra carbs. A dollop of whipped cream on a small portion might satisfy your craving without leaving you too full.
Pecan Pie
Pecan pie is incredibly rich, filled with sugars and fats that can leave you feeling drowsy. The sugar-heavy filling and buttery crust make this dessert a dense, calorie-packed treat. Eating pecan pie after a big meal can slow you down quickly, making it hard to stay awake.
If you want to indulge, try having a small slice or splitting it with someone. For a lighter option, consider fresh fruit as a sweet but energizing dessert alternative.
Cheesy Casseroles
Cheesy casseroles are popular comfort foods during Thanksgiving, but they’re often packed with carbs and fat. The cheese and creamy sauces make these casseroles heavy, requiring your body to work harder to digest them.
This extra effort can lead to that tired, sluggish feeling soon after you eat. If you want to enjoy a cheesy dish, try a small portion or balance it with lighter sides. Adding some fresh herbs and spices can boost the flavor without adding to the heaviness.
Apple Pie
Apple pie is a classic dessert that brings comfort, but it’s also loaded with sugar and refined carbs. The sugar can lead to a quick burst of energy followed by a crash, and the crust adds even more carbs.
This combination makes it easy to feel drowsy after eating apple pie. To enjoy the taste without the sugar overload, try having a smaller slice or skipping the crust. A baked apple with cinnamon can be a lighter, satisfying alternative.
Glazed Carrots
Glazed carrots add a sweet touch to Thanksgiving, but the glaze is often made with sugar or honey. This added sugar can contribute to a blood sugar spike and crash, leading to post-meal drowsiness.
Carrots are naturally sweet on their own and don’t need much added sugar to taste delicious. To keep your energy steady, try roasting or steaming carrots with a sprinkle of herbs instead. This way, you get the flavor without the added sugar crash.
Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach might seem healthy because it contains spinach, but the creamy sauce makes it a heavy dish. The added cream and butter can slow down digestion, leading to a sluggish feeling after the meal.
While spinach itself is a great source of vitamins, the cream and fats in this dish take away some of its health benefits. Try sautéing spinach with garlic for a lighter, more energizing option. This version keeps the nutrients without adding the extra heaviness.
In conclusion, if you want to have a traditional and delicious Thanksgiving dinner, prepare to take a nap!
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