I just got home from the grocery store with a Prius full of Thanksgiving fixins. It is the start of the holiday season which strikes fear into the hearts of many as they brace themselves to resist the holiday temptations of sugar and overindulgence, or choose to stay strong and possibly endure ridicule for passing on the pecan pie and heaven forbid gluten-ous stuffing. For many of us the holidays are the most stressful time of the whole year, and then on top of it we end up eating in ways that stress our systems even further. Here are my survival tips for holiday eating.
1. Eat before you go
If you have a holiday party or meal, eat a light meal before you leave the house, then you can pick and choose a few of the things offered and make good choices rather than arriving famished, finding nothing but terrible choices, and giving in to all of them.
2. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.
Make snacks ahead of time, soak and roast nuts and keep them in your car to snack on the go- they also make tasty gifts in a mason jar with a ribbon. Here is a link to a post with that recipe. Spend a little time searching for healthier versions of family favorites. You can make stuffing from scratch without all the added flavorings and preservatives of the boxed version, and you can even make it gluten free here is a recipe using GF bread. There are also very tasty alternatives in the sweets department, I am looking forward to trying this recipe for healthier peppermint patties. An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And of course there is a moment on the lips forever on the hips...
3. Some tricks from nature.
If emotional eating is a problem for you consider a custom Bach flower remedy designed to help you with the emotional triggers. I can whip one up for you without an appointment for only $25. If sugar is you nemesis, I have a magical herb called gymnema you can try. A few drops on the tongue takes away all of the sweet flavor, instantly turning even the most decadent desert into cardboard in your mouth.