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Step 1
Watch your portion size. One of the most important ways to prevent heartburn is to limit your portions, particularly with foods that are high in fat. Resist the common Thanksgiving temptation to take a larger portion than you normally would, especially during dessert.
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Step 2
Eat skinless turkey. Poultry skin is a common trigger food, so don't eat the turkey skin.
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Step 3
Avoid the post-meal nap. It is well-known that tryptophan in turkey can make you sleepy, and the post-meal nap is a common Thanksgiving tradition. However, being horizontal with a full stomach can increase your risk for heartburn, so it is best not to sleep right after eating. Plan a post-meal activity, such as a touch football game or simply taking a walk, to keep you from going to sleep right after eating.
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Step 4
Cut down on alcohol. Alcohol is a common trigger, so dilute your drink with water or club soda or choose non-alcoholic beer or wine.
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Step 5
Avoid late-night leftovers. Eating the Thanksgiving leftovers as a late-night snack is another common tradition, but as we discussed in Step 3, it is not a good idea to sleep right after eating. If you are going to have a turkey sandwich as a snack, make sure you give it time to digest before going back to sleep.
