Healthy Tips for Holiday Eating
That’s why today I’m sharing Healthy tips for holiday eating to help you survive parties and family gatherings. So you can stick to healing and reclaim your health!
Healthy Tips for Holiday Eating When you’re Out and About
Let people know about your dietary restrictions
If you’re attending an event of close friends or family members, let them know that you have certain dietary restrictions. Ask if they can accommodate and if they can share some recipes that are just as good as the original or even offer to make some foods that you can eat.
You’ll be surprised how many people will support your health journey.
If they ask why you're on your journey, feel free to disclose as much or as little as you want. But if you really don’t want to, that’s okay too.
Bring your own food
If your hosts can’t or don’t have enough time to accommodate your diet, bring your own food! Pack your personalized meals or foods to enjoy at a sit-down dinner or for snacking. There’s nothing wrong with supporting yourself first, even if it means your plate looks different from everyone else.
Eat Before the event
If people can’t accommodate your diet or you’re at an event where they were never going to accommodate your diet, eat delicious beans meals before the event! Eat all the foods that nourish your body and eat favorite foods that satiate your cravings.
Plus you can still bring snacks or leave some snacks in your car.
Drink Plenty of Water
While you’re at an event or gathering, drink water. Water is filling. Plus when you’re full it’s easier to pass on the foods that don’t support your healing!
I also find that always having a cup in my hand means I'm less likely to grab foods that don’t support my healing.
Start With Foods that Support Your Health
Feeling hungry or snackish isn’t a bad thing! I don’t recommend not listening to your hunger cues. If you’re going to eat, eat foods that support your health. If you’re avoiding foods high in saturated fats because they currently do more harm to your body, here are some foods that you should start with:
Fresh or cooked veggies
Choose lean meats over fatty meats
Beans if they have any
Chips/crackers without too much seasoning
Bring Psyllium
If you’re following the Bean Protocol, you’ll want to bring some Psyllium with you. Psyllium husk is full of soluble fiber. Whenever you’re stressed, or if you eat some foods that don’t support your body, psyllium will help you remove some of the negative effects brought on by those foods or stress.
But if you’re out and about, I highly recommend Psyllium Pills. They’re much easier to take and travel with than whole psyllium or powdered psyllium. Another benefit of psyllium husk is that its filling. Two birds, one stone!
Take Breaks
Being surrounded by people and foods can be triggering and overwhelming. That’s why if you need to, take breaks. Go outside, breathe fresh air, find some time to be alone and feel into your body. Remind yourself why you want your health, what a life in a healthy body will look like for you, and what you will do once you’ve reclaimed your health. Hold onto that vision as you step back into the party.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol may stimulate unhealthy snacking. Anyone who has had a drink can probably attest to this! I know when I’m buzzed, I’m suddenly more agreeable to eating anything in front of me whether it’s supporting my health or not.
Plus drinking alcohol may stimulate hunger. so even if you ate your meals beforehand, drinking alcohol will encourage you to continue to eat more.
If you need something to satisfy the urge of drinking, choose sparkling water or soda water. It’s different from drinking water, and it can trick your mind into thinking that you’re drinking alcohol.
Mental Tips During the Holidays
Ignore people who don’t support your diet
There will always be haters. Unfortunately, that’s a sad truth of life that I’ve come to realize is a fact. That’s why it’s important to learn how to set boundaries and ignore people who don’t support what’s best for you.
If people continue to bring up your diet choices, you can leave the conversation or change the subject.
If people try to bully you leave and find comfort from people who do care.
Realize that a few bites won’t ruin your progress
If you enjoy a few foods that don’t align with your diet, well don’t hate yourself! That’s the opposite of supporting your health. Instead, realize that a few bites won’t ruin your progress. If the cravings are too overwhelming, enjoy whatever you need to eat. The next day, check in with yourself. How do you feel? What symptoms, if any, occurred? If you’re feeling fine Hooray! Get back on track and stick to your desired diet. If you’re feeling worse take note of it.
If you’re not sure if you’re feeling worse or better, use these health trackers to help you keep track of your symptoms and notice what foods may trigger unwanted symptoms. Symptoms may not be directly from the food, but more a sign that healing is still needed.
Trust yourself
Over the years, there’s been a lot of misinformation about our mental strength when it comes to food. Many diet companies make you believe that you can’t be in a room with foods that don’t support your health because you’re weak and you’re going to “give in” and “overindulge.” It’s a bunch of BS these companies spread to keep us fearful and so we keep buying their shitty products.
The truth is you can trust yourself. You can trust yourself to make decisions that support you, and you can get back to eating meals that support you, the day after you enjoy foods that don’t always make you feel the best.
You’re strong and capable.
Focus on What matters
My favorite healthy tip for holiday eating is to focus on why you’re gathering in the first place! Holidays are meant to be spent with the people you love, to celebrate holiday traditions, connect, and find joy. Focusing on why you gather instead of the foods can completely shift how you eat during special occasions!
Those are my best healthy tips for holiday eating! Did I miss any tips? Leave them below so I can add them!
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