Along with the holiday season comes an abundance of food and drink, parties showcasing more food than we would normally include in our regular dinner menu. It’s clear why overeating is so easy to do this time of year.
While I am all about eating real, wholesome, delicious food (and being grateful for it!), this time of year calls for a very mindful approach to enjoying the offerings without feeling sick and bloated at the end of the day.
Here are a few tips worth including in your daily practice that can be of help as you navigate through the goodies:
- Start the day in a mindful way: Start your day off with healthy choices that get your body moving and your mind awake and aware. A walk or run, some yoga, a morning meditation … these things not only help you feel your best, they also help you deal with the frantic pace and massive selection of food in a calm and mindful manner.
- Hydrate! For whatever reason, when winter rolls around people stop drinking water. Proper hydration is essential for promoting good digestion, energy, and focus, transporting nutrients, encouraging circulation and metabolism, and many other aspects of what it takes to build a strong body. Water also plays a part in regulating your appetite, so be sure to drink up throughout the day.
- Check in with your hunger: Ask yourself where your hunger levels are before you start eating and continue to check in throughout the meal. This simple exercise can be the difference between the food-coma and a post-dinner family game.
- Choose wisely: High-quality protein and fats encourage satiation and reduce extra carb cravings. Of course, veggies should be the star of your dish; non-starchy varieties like leafy greens are rich in fiber and phyto-nutrients that will fill you up without the regret. Sweet potatoes and butternut squash are starchier options that can still be part of a well-balanced plate, just try to stick to ½ cup portions of these to aid in blood sugar balancing.
- Chew slowly: Paying closer attention to the pace at which you chew your food can make a huge impact on the total amount of food you consume. It’s also a great way to more mindfully enjoy it—for foods that took so much time, love, and energy to prepare, doesn’t it deserve that kind of appreciation? You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to eat less and feel completely satisfied when you pay attention to the tastes and textures of each bite.
I hope these tips will help you enjoy your holiday in a comfortable and healthy way.