One thing that you’ve probably heard me say before is that there are no “good” or “bad” foods, there are just the choices we make. And if we don’t like the results we’re getting, we have to make different choices. While this may sound contrary to what other sources say, think about it: is any food good to consume in limitless quantities? Of course not! Additionally, are there any foods that, if eaten in moderation, always produce negative consequences? Again, no!
Rather than foods and beverages being inherently “bad” or “good,” what matters above all else is our choices.
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Since we’re all made with our own dietary tastes, and we all have individual goals for our health, what works for one person may not work for another. Dietary choices are never one-size-fits-all.
Keeping this in mind, we can leverage this wisdom to make choices that align with our needs and goals during the holiday season. Instead of eating with wild abandon for two months, and feeling regretful later, recognizing that you have full control over your actions is the best way to feel incredible both during and after the holiday season!
How can you achieve this seemingly lofty goal? Explore five of my favorite tips for celebrating the holidays with mindful intention.
Begin with your end goal in mind
Making mindful dietary choices looks different for everyone. Embrace the fact that what health and happiness looks like to you isn’t the same as your next door neighbor, your family, or even a celebrity health guru! You aren’t a cookie-cutter copy of anyone, so let go of the illusion that you have to make the same choices as others to be “successful” with your health during the holidays.
Holding this truth close, determine how you want to feel in January 2022. Begin your plan for mindful eating and drinking with your end goal in mind. If you choose to spend the whole season celebrating with wild abandon, you’re likely to wake up in January feeling bloated and crappy. Alternatively, you could choose to celebrate with mindful intention. When you wake up on January 1st, you’ll feel energized and ready to get back to your health goals.
There is no right or wrong answer. Everything boils down to your choices. In order to make the best ones possible, decide what you need to do to feel the way you want to feel in January, and then act “as if” you had already accomplished it. This approach will eliminate the ambiguity and guilt that can come with “going with the flow” during the holiday season.
Adopt mindful eating techniques
Have you ever practiced mindful eating? In our fast paced world, savoring every bite can feel next to impossible. On a daily basis, too many of us rush through our meals to get to the next activity. When life is ultra busy, we may not even remember what we ate yesterday!
Now is the time to practice cultivating a sense of mindfulness while eating and drinking. During your next meal, allow yourself extra time to genuinely experience each flavor and texture. Developing a heightened awareness of the foods and drinks you are putting into your body can help you in several ways.
First, it can help you avoid mindless indulging. At parties, do you lose count of how many cookies or glasses of eggnog you consume? By being mindful, you can effortlessly decrease your intake of inflammatory foods. Second, mindful eating promotes greater satisfaction in what you choose to eat and drink. Slowing down to savor every sip and bite will allow you to enjoy the experience to the fullest — no matter what you choose to consume!
Related Post: Ditch the Holiday Stress to Feel the Holiday Joy
Start an at-home meditation practice
Want to take your mindful eating to the next level? Beginning a daily, at-home meditation practice can help you achieve this goal. In addition to providing a host of wonderful benefits (e.g. reduced stress and anxiety, improved sleep), meditation teaches you how to stay present in every situation. It helps you learn how to avoid past and future thinking, and stay fully aware in the here and now.
Mindfulness is a fabulous skill to use during holiday celebrations! This is especially true if you are prone to stress-induced overeating, or if the holidays bring up challenging emotions and memories. Working to stay in the present moment will elevate your awareness of every decision you make.
Make it easy to track your habits
For those who plan on setting specific goals during the holidays (e.g. allowing yourself five glasses of wine per week, or three cookies per week), make it easy to track your progress. One of the best ways to do this is by downloading an app that is suitable for your unique goals.
There are dozens of apps that allow you to quickly input how many drinks you’ve had, how many calories you’ve eaten, and so on. Simplify your life even more by selecting an app that is easy to use, and by using no more than two apps to track your habits.
Give yourself permission to enjoy the holidays to the fullest!
While working to be mindful of your dietary choices during the holiday season, don’t forget to have fun! The holiday season is intended to be a time of merriment, kindness, and happiness. Getting too wrapped up in your cookie count will rob you of the unique joys that can be found only at this time of year. Once you’ve set your goals, give yourself permission to enjoy each day to the fullest. Even if you overeat or overindulge, show yourself the same kind of love and compassion you would show to others. Avoid feelings of guilt and shame, and instead, strive to show up fully during every party, celebration, and gathering you attend.
DAWN MCGEE
Dawn McGee is a certified and licensed Nutrition Evangelist and a long-time foodie, she focuses on both the health and joy of food as fuel for your body. She is a driving force in bringing education on healthy eating to more people through her community, my “Reclaim Your Life, One Bite at a Time” programs, and my book “365 Days of Healthy Living”. Her hope for you is that you live a life you love, without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass
