How to navigate Thanksgiving dinner on a GLP-1

article FILE - Close-up of hands holding an GLP-1 injection pen while sitting at a table with a plate of food and a cup of soup. (Getty Images) The Brief People taking GLP-1s can enjoy Thanksgiving with portion control. Experts suggest balancing vegetables, lean protein and carbohydrates. GLP-1s slow digestion, making heavy meals more likely to cause discomfort. Thanksgiving is typically a time to indulge in the traditional holiday feast, but what if you’re on a GLP-1 ? No, you don’t need to exclude yourself from enjoying this food-forward season, but experts say there are ways to maintain your weight loss on a GLP-1 without going overboard. Portion control Dig deeper: Lindsay Malone, a registered dietitian at Case Western Reserve University, told The Associated Press that maintaining balance while also enjoying the variety of Thanksgiving foods is totally attainable, as long as you control your portions. "You want to look for about half of your plate to be vegetables, green beans, Brussel sprouts, salad, something along those lines, and then save a quarter of your plate for the starchier foods, like your bread, your potatoes, stuffing," Malone advised. Malone also advised avoid not eating all day long. "Many people will try to fast the whole day and they arrive either starving or their blood sugar is low, and this is a terrible way to start your Thanksgiving," Malone continued. RELATED: GLP-1 drugs getting new labels warning of rare vision-loss condition What you can do: The best way to fill your plate this holiday is using the 50/25/25 rule, according to the American Diabetes Association. 50% non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, carrots or mushrooms 25% lean protein such as salmon, chicken, tofu, or in this case, turkey 25% carbs, including whole grains, beans, starchy vegetables, fruit and dairy Controversy surrounding diabetes drug, Ozempic, being used for weight loss The diabetes drug, Ozempic, has been in the headlines, causing quite a stir. Senior writer for Drugwatch.com, Terry Turner, joined LiveNow to discuss how some people are ending up in the hospital, for misusing Ozempic as a weight loss drug. GLP-1s slow down digestion Big picture view: The reason behind why some people may feel sick or nauseous after partaking in holiday feasting is mostly due to how the medication works – it slows your digestion. Foods during the holidays are particularly heavy and these types of foods stay in your stomach longer, which can lead to cramps, bloating and feeling sick, according to UC Davis. The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press, a UC Davis news release on how to enjoy holiday meals while taking GLP-1s, and the American Diabetes Association website. This story was reported from San Jose. Holidays Food and Drink Health