MRW Holiday Eating Guide
It is that time of year, and although our parties and gatherings this year are limited there is always the challenge of how to maintain healthy eating habits throughout this season. The incessant cheese platters, assorted cookie gift bags, and boxes of chocolate seem as constant as zoom meetings, almost as if there was a conveyor belt of temptations following you around. This comfort food is the traditional glue that binds the holiday together. It serves as common ground for the social events around the season.
Around this time of year, there are so many reasons to “splurge” or indulge. It is also hard to navigate pressure from family members or colleagues to decline a dish they have made for this occasion. There is also a real emotional component to holiday eating. Being surrounded by cherished friends or loved family members fosters the need to find those same emotions in familiar foods that have given you a sense of pleasure in the past. Getting caught up in eating traditional holiday foods seems like a natural thing to do.
We came up with a few holiday hacks for our readers so you can be strong and feel a sense of accomplishment about making different healthier choices during the holidays.
Feast before the feast- Make a plan to show up to the event having already eaten. Having a snack such as a hard-boiled egg, a few slices of deli meat, some crudité like carrots or celery sticks, an avocado half with some tuna, or in a pinch a protein bar can slightly take the edge off being hungry so you make better choices during the festivities.
At the soiree, fill your plate with the healthiest options first. Find yourself wading through a sea of mini quiches and pigs in a blanket??? Sometimes bringing your own snacks may be necessary.
Know your off-limits list and what that means. Know before the event what the end result of indulging in certain foods are for you. For example, if you know beforehand that gluten makes your stomach blow up like a balloon for days after eating it, maybe that is on the naughty list. Dealing with a red wine headache during the workday tomorrow would be annoying, as could a fitful night's sleep due to the sugar overload.
There are so many ways to “know before you go” meaning ask before you eat. You DO NOT have to launch into a loud diatribe about how you can’t eat oranges. Or dairy. There is a heavy chance NO ONE CARES. You can always lean on a question like, “This looks delicious. What is in this?” or, “This looks great, but I am saving myself for those amazing beef skewers.”
Potlucks are the best kind of luck. When you can, try to encourage a potluck gathering. This way you can put a healthy spin on traditional dishes, and better yet, have a little control as to what is going to be served at the event.
