Navigating the Holidays
If we are all quite honest, the holidays can be the worst time for our health.
There are just too many holiday parties, family gatherings, and other festivities which make it hard to choose to eat and drink well in the last few months of the year. To compensate, many of us either go on some sort of diet before and/or after the holidays to try and make up for the quality and quantity of foods and drinks we consumed.
We want to make sure we ward off those few extra pounds some way, somehow right? Yet, my friends, the holidays do not have to be a health catastrophe or our nemesis. The holidays can be what they were actually created for – a time to celebrate life, family and friends – instead of a diet hurricane.
All it takes is commitment and preparation.
First of all, you need to make a commitment to not eat or drink everything you see, at every holiday occasion. Just because it is the holidays is no excuse to consume all you want, all the time. You may say “Hey, it’s once a year” and that is very well true, but the majority of us who have that mentality always wake up on January 1st and make the resolution to try the newest diet or health eating phase around in order to make up for how we ate and drank the weeks prior. Don’t diet, but choose to eat and treat in such a way that is sustainable for the rest of your life.
Therefore, you must commit to yourself that you will enjoy those special foods on the holidays, but that you won’t go overboard to the point where you actually hurt your body physically and mind mentally in the end. You must commit to consume nutritious foods and drinks, as well as enjoy those special holiday treats. You must understand that you have the power to say yes or no to whatever food or drink item comes your way. You must understand that you have a choice.
Now if this is coming out harsh, that is not my intention. I too love the holidays and my Grandma’s cassava cake, Cayman style beef, pumpkin pie, my Mother in laws famous pecan pie, turkey and honey roasted ham. I love those foods ALOT. But I’ve come to learn over the last few years, that it is NOT good for me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to overindulge on those things repeatedly throughout the holidays. I will not only physically feel sick if I do, but I will feel guilty and fearful of all the physical consequences that come with it. And I don’t know about you, but I do NOT want to feel that way this year. So just as I am asking you to commit to keeping your health a priority this holiday season, I am going to commit to you to do the same.
Second, prepare for all possible scenarios. There will be many family members and friends you have to visit, parties for you to attend, and food choices for you to maneuver. You must decide beforehand if that one party will be the party or event you will treat yourself to certain foods, or if it will be another event. If you don’t make this decision before, you will go in unprepared for the foods that may be there and may eat foods you didn’t even desire to eat before that party.
Here are some other quick tips for preparing for holiday scenarios and parties:
- Carry a food/drink item you know you can eat: This is key. I always carry a food item (usually salad, plantain or even a homemade dessert) that I know I can eat when I go to parties. There are many Paleo, Whole 30 and other healthy recipes for the holidays out there. Just do some research ahead of time 🙂
- Research the menu beforehand: In addition to bringing a side dish, I ask my friends what types of food will be at the party to see if there are other foods (such as grilled meats) that I can eat. When going to a restaurant, I also look at the menu ahead of time to see what to order before I even go there.
- Continue to workout and sleep well: This will make you feel good, trust me. You will be well rested which will ward off sleep deprived induced cravings and illnesses, and you will be taking care of your body by moving and using it.
- Carry snacks when traveling: Because let’s be honest, most airports don’t have health snacks and if they do, they either have unhealthy additives or cost more than your Christmas allowance.
- ENJOY your family, friends, AND the food: As I said, the holidays are meant to enjoy the loved ones in your life and to love on others. Food is an important part of this, so I’m not saying you should just eat salads for every meal. I’m saying to enjoy the foods that are special to you and your family during the holidays, but to do so in moderation and in such a way that you don’t suffer too much physically and emotionally from it.
The holidays always bring me so much joy and anticipation. Even now, I’m eager to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Cayman, Christmas with my husband’s family in California, celebrate the birth of Jesus and all the amazing people in my life. Will food be involved? Of course, Fruitcake and that Cayman style beef is never far behind my Caribbean Holiday menu.
However, I understand that I too must make a choice to either let the holidays break my health or improve it. And this year I choose the latter, because Jesus has brought me too far and has redeemed me too much for me to go back to the state of health I was once in. I choose to glorify Him through my food and drink choices this holiday season, and thereafter.
