Happy Thanksgiving

Today's health tip is simple. Spend at least as much time walking briskly as you spent lounging, snacking and eating your Thanksgiving meal.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Do Disney princesses make me look fat?

 Even little girls of preschool age worry about being fat. But they’re not hung up on being as skinny as a Disney princess.

Those were among the findings of University of Central Florida psychology professor Stacey Tantleff-Dunn and doctoral student Sharon Hayes whose research on little girls and cartoon princesses was recently published in the British Journal of  Developmental Psychology.

Here’s the good news for Disney -- just across Orlando from UCF -- and parents who rely on videos like Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella for some quiet time: “Young girls’ behavior or self-esteem did not appear to be influenced by video clips of the beautiful, thin princesses in animated children’s movies. That’s a sharp contrast to earlier studies showing how the self-esteem of older girls and women suffers after short-term exposure to thin, beautiful models on television and in the movies,” the study found.

UCF’s spokesman said Disney did not fund either the research or the professor’s Laboratory for the Study of Eating, Appearance and Health. But he couldn’t resist putting in a plug for the upcoming Disney animated feature, The Princess and the Frog, saying it will allow parents to start conversations with their kids about image issues. The new film, opening nationwide Dec. 11, has been praised for featuring the first African-American Disney princess.

News flash to kids: Princesses’ tiny waists are not realistic and you don’t need Snow White’s complexion to look good.

Kris Hundley, Times staff writer

Image from Disney's The Princess and the Frog

Plan today for tomorrow

Create a strategy for a healthy Thanksgiving Day. Decide now when you're going to get physical activity tomorrow. Plan to have a healthy breakfast in the morning; you'll be less likely to overeat later. Pledge to put your fork down between bites of food. Limit liquid calories. Serve yourself sides with a teaspoon. Put your plan on paper and keep it in your pocket as a reminder.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Skip day

To help avoid Holiday weight gain, skip all sweet treats today, except whole, fresh fruit. Instead of reaching into the candy jar, have a small apple, then go climb up 3 flights of stairs. Skipping those calories today, will help balance some overeating on Thanksgiving.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Prevention plan

Prevent Thanksgiving weight gain by eating less at all other meals this week. If you normally have 2 beers after work, have just one, skip fries at lunch, 86 the mayo on your sandwich, pass on second helpings at dinner. Schedule yourself for 30 minutes to one hour of challenging physical activity every day; make it the one appointment you don't break. 

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Schedule some fun

Make a date to go bowling. No, it's not aerobic, but it's more active than sitting on the sofa watching reruns. Besides, it's social and fun which helps fight depression, dementia and stress. If not bowling, walking or canoeing. The idea is to get up, get out and get connected.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Small steps to better health

Still not as physically active as you'd like? Start small. Today, walk to the corner and back. Tomorrow, walk for five minutes, then return, for a total of ten minutes. The next day walk for seven minutes, then return. Keep adding time and increasing your pace. Small steps lead to big benefits. 

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer 

Do your meals measure up?

When serving dinner tonight measure everything in measuring cups or on a kitchen scale. See how accurate you are at pouring a 4 ounce glass of wine, a tablespoon of salad dressing or dishing up a half cup of rice or potatoes. Controlling portions can help control weight and diabetes. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. 

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Halloween safety

Make sure you have a working flashlight and batteries to take along while trick or treating. Consider buying some reflective tape to add to costumes, shoes or treat bags. Use battery operated candles in pumpkins that will be near trick or treaters.  

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Halloween health tip

Encourage kids to earn their Halloween candy by being active for at least 30 minutes whenever they dive into the treat bag. Go with them to ride bikes, shoot baskets, walk the dog, take a swim, play tag, roller skate, or ask them to help rake the yard, sweep the walk, wash the car. Make sure they sweat for their sweets.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer