Holiday Eat Tips

Since it’s Thanksgiving in the U.S. this weekend, and Hanukah and Christmas are coming soon, I wanted to give you a few suggestions on how to continue to eat clean and make healthy choices with so many holiday comfort foods abound.

Follow the 80/20 Rule – 80% of the time eat clean. 20% of the time, enjoy life. Apply this concept to your Thanksgiving or other holiday meal plate. 80% is filled with greens and protein. 20% are your comfort foods.

Have a Plan – Have a clear intention to eat and drink in moderation. Think 80/20 again. Most people just let themselves “off the hook” on special occasions and even plan to overdo it. Then they suffer the consequences (stuffed, bloated, sick, hungover), which can lead to self-criticism and defeated feelings and makes it harder to reset. Plan to have no bread or no dessert. Plan to have only one drink and sparkling water (in a fun glass) the rest of the night.

Sweets – For some it’s easier just to skip it. Once our limbic, rat brain gets its sugar, it wants more! Have a clear intention and determination – I will sample a few bites of each. Plan to share. Save your sweets for once or twice a week. Use you sweets for only the best quality chocolate, or homemade dessert with the highest quality ingredients (no white flour or white, refined sugar). Try blueberries and plain greek yogurt at night as an alternative to traditional desserts.

Chew Your Food 42x – Yes forty-two times! Try it. Practice the art of savoring your food. Tasting it and taking your time slowly. Notice the impact.