Thanksgiving is a dramatic way to kick-start the holiday season. Plates full of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, casseroles, fresh rolls, pies and cakes are traditionally passed around a table full of family and friends. Overeating is simply the expectation of the day. And the Internet is flush with suggestions of ways you can burn more calories and exercise harder so you can earn the right to a large meal.

Even well-meaning folks promote 5K events and Thanksgiving HIIT workouts that feed into the prevailing idea that you must suffer in order to earn the right to sit at the Thanksgiving table.

Well this year, I call BS.

Food is so much more than calories. Food is nourishment. Food is joy. Food is tradition. And Thanksgiving is literally one day of the year.

So instead of thinking about your Thanksgiving meal in terms of the number of calories you think you deserve to eat, think in terms of “How much do I want this next bite?”  “Am I hungry?” “Do I feel satisfied, even if my plate still has more food on it?” and “Does eating this food make me feel good?” Your body is pretty smart about how much and what kinds of foods you need to feel satisfied. The question is, are you listening to your body?

And at the end of the day, you’re an adult. You have the right and ability to choose to put whatever food you want in your body. If you want to feel good after pushing yourself away from the table, eat slowly and listen to what your body is telling you. If you’re okay with loosening up your sweatpants and spending the afternoon in a food coma, then go all in!

Whatever you decide, enjoy it. Savor the meal. Savor the food, the conversation, the friendships, the pleasure of sharing food with good company.

I assume you’ll be in good company. If not, well you might want to go for a long walk in the park after the meal is over for reasons beside burning calories.

Oh, and one more thing. The Internet is also encouraging you to #optoutside this Thanksgiving weekend. While I totally agree with that sentiment, I challenge you to do one more thing. #optoffline. Yeah, log out of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Instead of sharing moments with people far away, how about actually being in the moment with the people who are joining you for the holiday weekend? Then, share your favorite memories on Sunday evening. Will you give that a try?

I will be completely off the grid from Wednesday night to Sunday afternoon, so I’ll check back with you all after that. Happy Thanksgiving

Read more:

Food is not a reward. Fitness is not a punishment from Girls Gone Strong

Intuitive eating 101: How to get started from Lauren Fowler