Happy December, friends! The lights and decorations are up and there is a festive feeling in the air. We are excited for another beautiful Christmas season celebrating the first coming of our Savior.
By this point, many of us have felt the one of the biggest draws of the holidays: the smell of delicious food is everywhere and it is hard to resist tasting it all.
We know there can be a lot of shame wrapped up in eating during the holidays. Many will provide a list of foods you “should” avoid. However, we offer a different approach: that of being mindful and intentional about what and when we eat. Being mindful about what we eat can help us savor all the flavors while still paying attention to what our bodies need. We can fuel our bodies well while still enjoying the treats that come around this time of year. Let’s see how being mindful can change how we enjoy festive food and help us to keep a balanced approach in our workouts and nutrition during the season.
Here are three ideas to help you be mindful while eating during the holidays:
- Savor every bite: Do not multitask while eating. Slow down and savor each bite. Give yourself time to fully experience the textures and flavors of the festive dishes. This will give you a deeper appreciation of your food. Furthermore, this simple act can help prevent overindulging and pushing past your body’s signals.
- Listen to Your Body’s Signals: Pay attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues. It can be tempting to ignore these signals because the food is so good! However, overeating can lead to feeling uncomfortable, sick, and regretful. Only eat when you are truly hungry and stop when you are comfortably satisfied.
- Practice Gratitude and Moderation: Approach your holiday meals with gratitude for the food and company. Choose to focus on the joy of the moment rather than fixating on restrictive thoughts. Practice moderation by enjoying smaller portions and prioritizing your favorite healthier options while still allowing room for occasional treats.
We can enjoy holiday celebrations guilt-free by this practice of mindful eating. Give yourself grace if this is a new habit for you. Remember: this season is a small part of the year. If you have built a routine of healthy habits, you have a strong foundation upon which to return if you happen to overindulge at a meal or two.