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Beat the Holiday Bloat: Post Turkey Day Revival Guide!

So you overindulged at Thanksgiving dinner (who didn't?!). The stuffing...the casseroles...the pumpkin pie! That doesn't mean your diet's doomed 'til after New Year's. HG's got the 411 on how to bounce back from T Day, starting now!

HG's Top Ate Tips for Turkey Day Detox:

1. Don't start cutting crazy amounts of calories. Believe it or not, the best way to keep extra pounds off is actually to return to a normal, healthy amount of calories per day. Restricting yourself in hopes of canceling out all the extra calories you consumed on Thanksgiving will only confuse your body and your metabolism (first too much, then not enough!).

2. Turn leftover turkey into guilt-free grub. White meat turkey is packed with filling protein but not a lot of calories or fat. Toss some on a salad and serve with low-cal dressing. Add some to broth-based soup for a hearty starter. Or try our latest favorite -- combine a few ounces with a container of Boca Meatless Chili (click here for more on that)...soo good!!!

3. Give your fridge a makeover. If your kitchen's still packed with fattening holiday goodies, chances are you'll ending up eating 'em all, one bite at a time! Don't turn a one-day holiday into an excuse to pig out for a week. Get rid of all that tempting stuff and stock your kitchen with fruits, veggies, lean protein, and satisfying snack foods.

4. Shake the salt habit. To downsize day-after bloat, try to limit your salt intake. Click here to check out our review of some low-sodium soups, and click here for some low-cal frozen meals that are lower in salt.

5. Treat yourself. You read right! Just because fruits and veggies are your best bets after a day of splurging does not mean they have to be booooring. Snap up some Funky Monkey Freeze-Dried Fruit -- this crunchy fruit snack is all fruit, nothing added, but it tastes fantastic and comes in fun flavor combos (click here to see our favorite!). Or whip up some of HG's famous Lord of the Onion Rings -- they're veggie-rific, low in calories and fat, and packed with fiber...but they taste like junk food!

6. Swap it up! Avoid extra calories each day by making simple swaps. Trade regular milk for skim and save about 60 calories and 8g fat per cup. Or opt for an HG fave, Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze -- that nondairy swap is creamy and delicious and has a whopping 110 fewer calories than whole milk! Opt for light bread (with about 45 calories per slice) instead of regular doughy bread slices, and you can save 100 calories for each sandwich you chew! (Click here for our fave bread picks.) And instead of regular eggs, use a fat-free egg substitute like Egg Beaters. For omelettes, baking, scrambles, and more, you'll save about 70 calories and 8g fat each time you swap a half-cup of that egg sub for 2 regular eggs.

7. Hit the mall! Power-shopping through the mall burns calories, people! And getting that holiday shopping done early will wipe out stress-related food splurges due to that last-minute gifting frenzy. Plus, picking out holiday outfits for yourself will keep you motivated to rebound from Turkey Day.

8. Guzzle while you gobble. Getting enough H20 during your meals and throughout the day is key to keeping full. Plus staying hydrating helps keep you focused, so you're less likely to make a food flub. If sipping plain water isn't your thing, try spiking a bottle with a packet of sugar-free powdered drink mix, like the ones by Crystal Light, Wyler's Light, and Market Pantry. Or for an all-natural option, try Hint Water -- it's fruity but subtle, and we think it rocks!

ABOUT HUNGRY GIRL
Hungry Girl, the guru of guilt-free foods, is on the case. She's always ready to make over a meal or find a diet-friendly answer to any craving -- in a flash. No diet dilemma is too large, or too small, for the goddess of grub. Hungry Girl is not a nutritionist... she's just hungry. More information about Hungry Girl at her column on http://food.yahoo.com/blog/hungrygirl.