Healthy Chicks

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! However, unfortunately holiday parties can bring on quite a bit of anxiety…especially around food. It’s common to feel anxious, guilty or even fearful over what you’re going to eat at your next social gathering. Sound familiar? No worries! Here are 6 healthy ways to navigate eating at holiday parties like a champ (without giving up apple pie).

1. Bring a Homemade Dish

Consider bringing a homemade dish to your next holiday gathering! Rather than focusing on the calories or fat content, focus on the beautiful, nourishing ingredients that go into your meal. Follow Mother Nature’s lead by cooking with seasonal produce like winter squash, apples, pears, sweet potatoes, beets, and of course — an extra dose of love!

2. Slow Down

The holidays only come once a year, and so does grandma’s famous mashed potatoes. Why race through them? Instead, take a deep breath before your meal, slow down and enjoy yourself. Relish in the flavors, the smell and the texture, and thoroughly soak in every last bite.

3. Celebrate the Experience

If eating at holiday parties brings you a lot of anxiety (trust me, I’ve been there), try shifting the focus away from the food.

Think about all of the other aspects of the gathering — catching up with friends and family, the beautiful centerpieces, the hand-crafted cinnamon infused sangria, or the fresh snowfall. Choose to celebrate the experience; food is just one aspect of it.

4. Ditch the Labels

It’s time to ditch the “labels” we give food, and I’m not talking about the nutritional grid! “I was so bad this weekend, so I need to eat good.” “I ate super clean today and had a kale salad so I can cheat and eat a piece of pumpkin pie for dessert.” “I’m being such a fatty today!” Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: food is food. Let’s stop giving it so much control and power! Instead of all the judgment, choose what makes you feel nourished, and just eat what you want. Try asking yourself, Does X make me feel good? Is it nourishing my body?

5. Eat What You Want

I’m a big advocate for eating what you want, and not depriving yourself. If you label certain foods off limit, this can often lead to feeling deprived, bingeing on that particular food at a later time and then feeling guilty. This is why I’m not a fan of dieting…it’s simply not sustainable!

Instead allow yourself to have anything you want, but only if you truly want it. There’s a big difference in consciously choosing to have a slice of your aunt’s famous apple pie versus mindlessly eating chips because they’re “there.” And let’s be real: sometimes we indulge a little more than we’re used to and that’s OK too. Time to move onward and upward!

6. Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is a surefire way to take the focus off of food, and shift it toward the other wonderful things in your life. Try starting a gratitude journal, challenging yourself to write down 3 things you are grateful for every day.

I love our family Thanksgiving tradition, where the younger kids ask us what we’re thankful for then read the responses aloud so we can guess who said what. It brings so much joy and laughter to the dinner table!