Holidays can be a stressful time for many with travel, family and all of the indulgent meals. Mindful eating can be a helpful tool to savor and enjoy all of the delicious seasonal flavors and dishes. Here are a few tips to incorporate mindful eating into your holiday plans
Focus on Food Flexibility
- Remember that all food can fit within a healthy diet
- Allow yourself the grace to be imperfect
- Be mindful that you are in control of what you eat, not any external forces
Honor Your Body’s Hunger and Fullness Cues
- Holiday stress can cause your hunger and fullness cues to be harder to recognize. Pay extra attention to how your body feels before and after you eat
- If you are hungry, do not skip meals in anticipation of a future larger meal. Have a game plan with snacks as needed
Savor Your Holiday Favorites
- Give yourself permission to enjoy your favorite holiday foods and flavors
- Determine what you are most excited to eat and savor it
After the Holidays
- Get back into your regular routine
- Remember that a regular exercise or movement routine is more important than exercising extra hard after a holiday
- If you will be traveling, have a plan for what you will eat when you return home. Determine what foods you will order or when you will go grocery shopping. Consider having a freezer meal ready to go. One of my favorites is freezer stir fry. Here’s a great recipe