You can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner without regret — and without derailing your health goals.

I know that’s hard to believe when the starting lineup this Thursday includes succulent turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, casseroles and warm stuffing — all washed down with decadent desserts. But, with a little bit of planning, you’ll be just fine.

For starters, it’s important to have the right mindset when it comes to food.

Try “to enjoy that Thanksgiving meal without any feelings of guilt. As soon as we associate guilt to foods, we don’t necessarily enjoy them the first time we eat them, and then we might want more,” said Meg Burnham, registered dietitian at the Recreation Center. “Enjoy it, savor it, slow down and get back on track with a healthy diet the next day.”

Instead of shoveling in everything, take a moment to thank the person who prepared the meal and then appreciate the food in moderation, without remorse — one meal isn’t going to ruin everything you’ve worked for.

Of course, we can’t eat every day like it’s Thanksgiving. Problems arise when people allow a celebratory day to prompt a domino effect of bad habits, especially when “the average American may consume more than 4,500 calories and a whopping 229 grams of fat during a typical holiday gathering from snacking and eating a traditional Thanksgiving dinner …,” according to the Calorie Control Council.

With these numbers in mind, it’s important to go into Thanksgiving with a plan. If you want to allow yourself one meal or one day without dietary restrictions, that’s fine. Just stay within your limits — don’t forget about your goals and don’t characterize your lifestyle based on choices you make on Thanksgiving.

“People can get so caught up on what happened on actual Thanksgiving Day; they should look at the whole season and how much progress they’ve made versus one day,” said Rayanne Nguyen, graduate nutrition, health and wellness student.

It’s also useful to remember food is just one part of Thanksgiving. Savor the time you get to spend with friends or family, enjoy a break from work and spend some time considering the things you can be thankful for.

Beyond keeping a positive mindset, planning out what you will eat can also be helpful. If you want a little bit of everything, opt for smaller portion sizes. If you’re craving a giant slice of pie and ice cream, limit your consumption of other sugary treats.

If you don’t want to completely veg out all day, a morning exercise before a big day of eating is never a bad idea. A little touch-football with friends, a walk with the family or a jog are all great ways to enjoy the holiday even more while staying active. Or, stay warm and find ways to move inside.

“There are ways that you can do exercise in your own house and it doesn’t have to be for a long period of time. But, exercise can make you feel better and then you have more mental clarity to make better decisions,” Nguyen said.

Master your mindset, enjoy food in moderation — you can have your pumpkin pie and eat it, too, without any regrets.