Tips from our Holistic Nutritionist
With the holidays quickly approaching – family gatherings, work parties and hopefully some time off from work or school – our eating routines often go out the window. This is, to say, not necessarily a bad or good thing – no need for labels. However, if you struggle with this and want to keep your body feeling fine, here are a few things to keep in mind to help you get through the holiday season; Feeling a sense of vitality, rather than the usual ‘Holiday Hangover’ consisting of bloating, lethargy, digestive upset and guilt.
Plan Ahead
Create weekly menu plans and prep ahead if able to. Knowing that things can come up at the last minute – think wrapping presents, last minute errands etc. – this can save you time and help you handle things as they come up with more ease and resiliency. It’s a great strategy to do this even if you’re on holidays or have more free time, having a plan means you’re more likely to stick with it as you have already put the work in. Last minute decisions can easily turn into moments of indulgence, leaving you to deal with the consequences (remember the ‘Holiday Hangover’ we mentioned?).
BYO Food
As a Holistic Nutritionist I am often asked about navigating family gatherings and dietary concerns. If you prefer to eat a certain way, why not bring your food to events? You may be asking yourself, “But what if people are offended by this?”. Remember who you are doing it for, YOU! How you choose to nourish your body is entirely your choice. If you feel like explaining your decision to do so (you absolutely do not have to), you can phrase like this, “I am working really hard to follow my current way of eating to help me ____ (goal, manage health concern etc.). It can be overwhelming for some people to have foods available for all individuals attending and a variety of nutritional needs, so I thought I would help out!”, or avoid explaining how it helps you and purely focus on how it helps them, “I know how busy and overwhelming it can be to host these kinds of events so I wanted to lend a helping hand!”. You could even try, “I have this amazing dish that I was just so excited to share with everyone!”.
Call Ahead
It’s okay to call your friends, family, or whomever is hosting the event you are planning to attend, to ask them what food items will be served and/or what others are planning on bringing. This will help you to plan ahead and bring things if needed or desired. Try not to make it about them or their food being inadequate; This purely to support your needs and, if desired, you can make a comment such as, “I’m just trying to plan ahead!” and if needed, you can request that certain foods be available to accommodate your eating routine (especially large catering events where it feels less personal to be asking for such).
Mindful vs. Mind Full
The holidays can be VERY busy, leaving most of us feeling so stressed out and with a billion things to get done in anticipation of various events. Remember to schedule in (like an appointment) blocks of time EACH DAY to do things that promote your self-care. Powering through will inevitably leave you feeling burnt out and might even end in you getting sick! What fills your cup? Morning or Evening meditations, reading a book, enjoying a holiday movie, going for a coffee or manicure…. Pick SPECIFIC things that make you feel recharged and do them every day! When you head to a holiday event you will feel less driven to head straight for the dessert table and find instant gratification (feelings of control, joy and satisfaction) from a cookie platter.
Eat When You’re Hungry
It can be so tempting to avoid eating before a party or gathering to “save up calories” and go all out at the party. The reason why this often backfires is that your body needs consistent levels of healthy fats and protein to keep blood sugar levels balanced. When you deprive your body of food for a prolonged time (imagine a state of extreme hunger, headache, dizziness etc.) you will crave immediate gratification, usually in the form of refined carbohydrates (think cookies, cake, pastries etc.) to quickly elevate your blood sugar to a balanced state. Repeated occurrences long term can have some negative ramifications for your body. Be sure to eat when you’re hungry, especially before attending an event, so that you arrive feeling alert and can enjoy the food available moderately.
Ask Yourself, “What am I hoping to get out of this event?”
Perhaps you want to catch up with someone you haven’t seen in a while, enjoy some family holiday traditions (games etc.) or embrace a more relaxed state and being in the moment. Food is an integral part of the holidays and it is okay to indulge once in a while and ENJOY eating some comforting favourites. Before heading out to each holiday event though, I want you to ask yourself “What am I hoping to get out of this event?” and focus on your response for the duration of the event. If you goal is to indulge on Grandma’s famous Apple Crumble, then go for it! Be at peace with your choices and act accordingly.
If you’re looking for a simple (and very yummy!) recipe to make and take to your holiday gatherings, why not try our Pomegranate Yogurt Bark recipe?!
With less than 5 minutes needed to prepare it, you can whip this up the night before or morning of, leave it in the freezer overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours. Take the tray out of the freezer when you are ready to serve it, break into smaller pieces with your hands and enjoy! If you are not going to be enjoying it right away, or have leftovers, be sure to place back in the freezer, as soon as possible, as it will begin to thaw.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
– Lori