Well It’s That Month Again

Here we are again, December 1, the start of the annual holiday food-fest. You’ve probably heard all the ‘tips to avoid weight gain’ already–eat before you go out, don’t stand near the buffet table, alternate your drinks with plain soda, fill up on low fat veggies and dip…

I would like to offer another suggestion. How about just enjoying what you really love, and what symbolizes the holiday season to you, and doing your best to ignore the rest? So if you bake cookies with your daughter/sister/partner from an old recipe of your mother’s every Christmas, go ahead and bake, and indulge! But when you come across the store-bought shortbread that someone brought into the office, keep right on walking.

When you sit down to Christmas dinner with all your favourite once-a-year dishes, savour every bite of the meal, and the occasion. But when you’re heading out for the umpteenth holiday luncheon/neighborhood get-together/evening drink with friends or co-workers, take pleasure from the company instead of seeing an occasion to indulge. It doesn’t have to be all about the food. Stick with healthy choices and you will be glad you did.

Somehow it’s become normal to eat our way through December, and then be depressed in January as we face the start of the long winter slog to take the weight off. How nice would it be instead to start the new year feeling nourished, rested and energized? Just because food is in front of you doesn’t mean you have to eat it all. Set your own healthy plan for this holiday season, and really do have a happy new year.