Balancing out Holiday Feasting
‘Tis the season for friends, family, fun and of course….food! Yup, the holidays are here, but with some positive self-care practices you can balance out holiday feasting without losing sight of your health goals.
Here's 8 top tips to help you keep the balance whilst the treats are flowing!
1) Listen to your body
Mindful eating is about being fully focused on what you’re eating so you can a) enjoy the experience that food brings and b) recognise when you feel full. It also follows the very simple routine of eating when you’re hungry and avoiding food when you’re not.
Whilst this might seem tricky amidst an abundance of festive indulgence, there’s something rather empowering about this technique that helps you take full control over your eating habits. Some good ways to start are mindful food prep, taking your time to eat meals, focusing on how the food makes you feel and of course, stopping when you’re full.
2) Exercise
The holidays don’t have to mean abandoning your fitness goals and diving onto the couch for multiple Netflix marathons. Keep sight of your progress and move your body in ways that feel good to you. Whether it’s an early run, yoga practice or dancing around the lounge with the kids, ALL movement is good and will help you maintain that sense of balance (even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day).
3) Keep on top of your veg intake
Eating better during the holidays is often as simple as having healthy choices to hand. Veggies in the pantry, lighter dishes on the table and serving vegetables first will help fill you up and ensure everyone gets the nutrients they need.
The key is to dress them up with clever twists that inject lots of flavor. Like these Festive Filo Parcels, Sage & Sprout Cauliflower Rice Risotto and Sweet Potato with Roasted Tomatoes. Visit our recipes page for more great vegetable dishes to try.
4) Eat Slowly
It’s true that it takes time for the brain to register when you are full, so slowing your eating right down and chewing properly will help you tune into those hunger cues.
Studies have also shown that slower eating can aid digestion. Despite popular belief, digestion actually starts in the mouth so the more work you do there, the less you’ll have to do in your stomach, leading to fewer digestive problems. Makes perfect sense, right?
5) All in moderation
Enjoy your indulgent dinner but make the meals around it healthy. Go in for the sweet snacks but add some veg to bring good nutrition too. Have the desert but go for a long walk after…
The holidays don’t need to be about depriving yourself of things (really, where is the fun in that?). It’s more about moderation and maintaining a sense of balance. That way you can keep on track with your goals and head into January feeling revitalised and energised.
6) Take a walk after dinner
Whilst the temptation to slump onto the couch after a big meal is inevitable, getting outside for a post-dinner walk will aid digestion and bring some movement into your day. So, get your crew into their shoes and head out! Your mind and body will thank you for it…
7) Cook it yourself (rather than ordering in)
Cooking yourself is always a healthier option – you know what goes into your food and can work on knocking up healthier alternatives to some of your favourite festive dishes.
Try adding vegetables to sweet bakes or add a pouch of pre-prepared Fullgreen Riced Cauliflower to veggie bakes and canapes. These are great ways to bring some extra vitamins and nutrients to your dishes (often without even knowing it’s there!)
Give these recipes a try:-
Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
Sweet Potato Warm Autumn Salad
Chocolate Sweet Potato Energy Bites
Stuffed Butternut Squash
Sweet Potato Brownies
8) Take time to re-charge
Lengthy to do lists, a diary full of commitments, multiple guests visiting…the holidays can sometimes feel overwhelming and aren’t exactly conducive to the R&R we often seek during an extended break! Try to carve out some time for yourself to practice self-care. Whether that’s meditating, journaling, mapping out your goals for 2022 or cooking a healthy home-made meal. We all need that quiet time to re-focus and re-charge.