Holiday season is here.
Meaning lots of festivities. It can feel like an odd time – one where we want to relax, but we’re all so busy. It’s enough to tire out body and soul if you aren’t taking care of yourself during all the celebration. However, you can do both—take care of you and celebrate. The holidays are about family, friends and re-filling our hearts with love and gratitude. It’s about traditions that give joy, warmth and giving. And yes, it’s about feeling your most radiant, most fulfilled self.
So how do you do that? By feeding your insides with all of the surrounding love while fueling your outsides with healthy, whole foods.
Yes, I have loads of healthy recipes to share. But fill what ever void you may have by instead overindulging in more heart-felt conversations, gratitude, family, fun and watching the joy just unfold.
Yes, every family has their issues, but overindulging in another drink, another slice and yet another eggnog won’t help you feel your best. Just the opposite actually. And you know this. I am simply the reminder.
Empower yourself by loving yourself up. This starts with allowing yourself to enjoy and indulge. Healthy is a daily practice. We are not going for perfection here, just progress. Keep this top of mind when you are celebrating the season.
Here’s our essential Holiday hit-list to make this your healthiest holiday yet and keep you glowing, gracious and guilt-free this crazy holiday season. Try to keep these top of mind while celebrating with your family!
THINGS TO DO
Eat Slowly, Practice Mindful Eating
It’s a sad thing when I hear a someone tell me that they indulged in their fave food but “didn’t even taste it” because they were beating themselves up for eating it before they even finished it. Don’t fall into that trap. Make it a conscious indulgence, eat slowly, enjoy every bite and saviour it. Slow down by sitting down, using a plate and real napkin. Between every bite, put your fork down and allow yourself some breathing room. Do not take a nibble while texting, hailing a taxi, watching TV, chatting on the phone or opening up your mail. Be present and in the moment. After all, the seasons change quickly.
Focus
On the company, conversation and the meaning of the holiday.
Eat before dinner
My green Go-Go juice and a salad will do perfectly.
Bring a dish
…My Pumpkin Hummus is the perfect protein-packed appetizer; quinoa endive cups; or my all time favourite sweet treat. Your hosts will be blown away. (Plus you know it’s good for your body, mind and spirit and delicious so you will want to eat it!)
Fill your plate with leafy greens
Choose vegetables as much as possible and skip the basics like peanuts, chips, etc. These are just fillers. Remember the goal here is to make every bite count.
Pick healthier holiday faves
Turkey, sweet potatoes and roasted vegetables.
Eat, but not too much
Enough, not until full. The full feeling is actually a signal to you that you have eaten too much. We don’t really ever want to get to that place. So think about eating and enjoying, but not overeating. Think of it as the 80-20 rule.
Drink hot water with lemon after dinner
This really helps digestion and helps flush toxins out.
Grant yourself permission to indulge!
Eating foods just for the sake of pleasure, in a conscious and deliberate way, is all part of healthy eating and will not zap your healthy lifestyle. Deprivation doesn’t ever work. When we are constantly restricting our food, we are always coming from a place of lack. This is a paralyzing state to be in.
Enjoy outdoor time
Go for a walk, play an outdoor family game, see some sights. Movement alone benefits your central nervous system and helps the entire digestion process.
THINGS NOT TO DO
Rush
Don’t rush eating your food
Over focus
on the food.
Show up HUNGRY
You will, no doubt, overeat and end up eating the foods that don’t make you feel your best.
Go empty handed
Bring your hostess a homemade pesto or healthy superfood dessert.
Pile your plate
With mountains of food.
Eat just cause it’s there
Munch on pre-dinner snacks like chips and cheese or little one-bite desserts.
Overindulge
Foods to be mindful of: casseroles (usually loaded with hidden fats and dairy), stuffing and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy.
I just get ill thinking of all that starchy food on one plate. Choose your all time favourite traditional holiday food or take a small sample of each.
Eat until you are so full
That you feel sick. I can’t think of a worse feeling. We shouldn’t need to unbutton our pants after a meal. This is unhealthy for our entire system. Keep your focus while eating. You and how you feel is the priority
Continue to drink after a huge dinner
I know, way to ruin the party, but alcohol totally hinders with digestion. Alternate with water.
Eat multiple desserts
Sugar and sweets on top of a big meal also harms digestion. Opt for a small piece of your favourite instead. Yes, you can have your cake and eat it to