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Dietitian Kylie Bensley advises skipping macaroni and cheese if you’re on Ozempic due to potential digestion issuesPeople using GLP-1 medications should also avoid candied yams because they can significantly affect blood sugar levels, Bensley saysBensley suggests choosing lighter drinks like wine spritzers instead of heavy cocktails to better manage blood sugar levels
Thanksgiving Day doesn’t have to be limiting for those taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic for diabetes or weight loss — but experts say some holiday favorites should be avoided.
On the no list? “I would definitely say mac and cheese,” dietitian Kylie Bensley, founder of the women’s nutrition company Sulinu, tells PEOPLE.
She adds, “It’s one of those dishes that you really can’t make low-fat, you really can’t make it light. Sometimes, it’s even hard to digest just because it’s just carbs and fat and could make you feel worse.”
Macaroni and cheese.
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Bensley also cautions people to keep their blood sugar in mind: While Ozempic has become a trendy weight-loss aid, it’s approved by the FDA for those living with type 2 diabetes.
For this reason, Bensley suggests avoiding “candied yams, for sure.”
“Your blood sugar is so dramatically affected,” she explains, noting that candied yams are “mostly all sugar, and very little nutrient value.”
Per Bensley, sugar can also be a problem in some cocktails, advising people to skip “any heavy, heavy alcohol drinks” or “any cream-based drinks.”
People toasting at Thanksgiving.
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Those who want to imbibe should choose spritzers, such as a wine spritzer with cranberries.
“It’s fun and festive and you enjoy it, but also it’s not going to drastically affect your blood sugar,” she explains.
Consuming dairy should not be a huge worry, and there’s no need to go completely dairy-free, according to Bensley. She suggests pairing cheese with fruit, for example, to add more fiber to aid digestion.
An overall good strategy is “protein first, veggies second.”
Even if you decide to indulge in macaroni and cheese, Bensley said to “make sure that it’s no more than 25% of your plate — and eat your protein first.”
You can have dessert, Bensley says, with one caveat: Consider eating it with the meal to avoid a blood sugar spike.
Stock image of Thanksgiving desserts.
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“I love Thanksgiving for the pumpkin pie — it’s such a low-sugar dessert that it tends to be fine for your blood sugar,” she notes. “Chocolate is okay, but just try to do it with your meal to keep that blood sugar stable.”
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If you overeat on Thanksgiving, Bensley advises sipping peppermint or fennel tea and going for a walk to get your digestive system moving.
“Quickly forgive yourself and you move on,” she says. “Don’t spiral in through all the holidays. Don’t throw up your hands and say, ‘I’ve given up, I’m just gonna go into a general spiral through New Year’s.’ ”
Bensley added, “We just practice fast forgiveness, we move on. And we practice more mindfulness at the next meal.”
Dining and Cooking