Enjoy Your Holiday Season, You’re Allowed to Enjoy the Food.

Holidays are full of parties and family gatherings. And for most of us, it also comes with food guilt.

We have all left the table so full that we wish we could unbutton our pants. Instead of filling ourselves with joy and laughter, we allow Food guilt to steal our happiness and keep us from celebrating the holidays with our loved ones. Shame and guilt have no place in our lives; learning to balance holidays, family, and food isn’t easy.

This year could be different. Imagine enjoying your favorite holiday foods without stress, shame, or guilt. You ask how?

It is not about perfection.

It is about balance.

Living a healthier lifestyle isn’t about strict rules or denying yourself of your favorite food. Don’t sit on the sidelines wishing you could eat your favorite holiday food. When we restrict ourselves, we are more likely to overeat.

Before you go to a holiday gathering, eat a healthy snack. This way, you don’t arrive hungry and find yourself making your way through your third helping. You will be more prepared to make better choices.

Scan the food table, pick one to two favorites you can’t live without, and have a serving. Eat slowly and savor every bite. Give yourself permission to enjoy without guilt or shame. Focus on conversations and memories being created with loved ones, not just the food.

Dr. Michael Greger says, “It is not what you do on your birthday, holidays, and special occasions, it is what you do day to day that counts.”

Have the cookie, enjoy the pie, just do it mindfully instead of on autopilot. Imagine how proud you will be at the end of the holiday season when you look back and see all the intentional choices you made. Not out of restriction, but from self-care. The pride you will feel knowing you enjoyed your favorite holiday foods without overdoing it. All of your small but mindful choices add up. At the end of the season, when you look back and see all the intentional food choices you made, you will be filled with pride and confidence.

Reframe what we think holidays are, and what I mean by this is don’t just think of holidays as a time to eat. Think of it as a time to be with the people you love the most and allow yourself the joy of the holidays.