Thanksgiving Is More Than Just Food (courtesy of ObesityHelp.com)

Many of us focus on the Thanksgiving dishes that we love and take us back to memorable times when we were younger. Sure, that is part of Thanksgiving. However, Thanksgiving is more than just about food.

Thanksgiving Past and Present

A bit of how Thanksgiving began: in 1621, the pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving feast that came over on the Mayflower and the Indians in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After the pilgrims endured the challenging 66-day trip across the Atlantic Ocean, they were befriended by the Native Americans. The Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to plant and harvest crops and how to fish and hunt. The pilgrims had much to be thankful for.

So, what does this have to do with us currently? The pilgrims gave thanks to the many people that had helped them, became a part of their lives, and taught them valuable life lessons. You probably have the same thing. You have people in your life such as family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors that have done the same for you and made an impact for you.

Thanksgiving is much more than lots of food. Sure, that’s part of it but think out of the box to make your Thanksgiving Special and Memorable. Check out the meaningful ways to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Is More Than Just About Food

Check out these ways to make your Thanksgiving special and memorable

Movies. Watch Thanksgiving-related movies.

Share Gratitude. Ask your Thanksgiving guests to write down on small pieces of paper what they are grateful for and share.

Sharing is Caring. Ask your guests to share something that happened this year that was special to them.

Volunteer to Deliver Food to People that Aren’t Able to Get Out. A place to consider is Meals On Wheels.

Thank You. Write thank you notes to first responders in your area. (Adding a plate of goodies wouldn’t hurt either.)

Be Active and Have Fun. Participate in a Turkey Trot in your area.

Make a Donation to Your Local Food Bank. You can make it a fun group activity. Take your family, kids, and friends to the grocery store to buy non-perishable items. Put your items in a basket or box, write a note, and ring the doorbell.

Gratitude Chains. Paper chains aren’t just for kids. Cut out thin strips of colorful paper and ask friends and family to write something on the strips they are grateful for. Tape or staple each strip into a loop, interlocking with the next paper loop until you have a beautiful chain. Use the paper chain to decorate the table or hang it over the door for a beautiful reminder of all your blessings.

Light Gratitude Candles. Use this simple object lesson to show how gratitude is most beautiful when it’s shared! Dim the room and hand out a small candle to each person at the Thanksgiving table. Start by saying something you are grateful for while you light your candle. The person next to you then shares what they are grateful for and lights their candle from yours. Eventually, the room is lit up with happy thoughts.

Play Games. Start a tradition of playing board games, trivia, card games, or play Charades.

Organize a Friendsgiving Get-Together. Start an annual “Friendsgiving” by inviting friends who also aren’t celebrating with family. Sometimes the best family is the one you create!

Thanksgiving Quotes

“Always have an attitude of gratitude.” – Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us)

“Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.” – Robert Caspar Lintner

“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” – Gerald Good

“Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have.” – Catherine Pulsifer

“I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.” – Will Arnett

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” – Randy Pausch

Be Happy!

One of the keys to being happy is to focus on the good things in your life. People that are happy and content in their lives tend to take better care of themselves, make healthy food choices, exercise and move more, and enjoy the relationships they share with others.

Take-Aways that Thanksgiving Is More Than Just Food

Embrace the gratitude for your health and wellness! Celebrate Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to you from the ObesityHelp team! Thank you for being a member of the ObesityHelp Community, part of our social media community, visiting the website, and sharing your experiences and support.

Thanksgiving is one day of the year, but you can celebrate your thankfulness and gratitude 365 days a year.