Survival Tips for the Holiday Dinner

The holidays are here so what better time than to gift you with some tips and tricks that will make your day that much more enjoyable!

Spending time around a table full of seasonal dishes and people you see twice a year can leave you feeling a little crazy. Trust me when I say I can relate - I’ve experienced next level anxiety when it came to what was going on my plate. Now throw in your Uncle Mike discussing politics and Aunt Karen explaining her new diet… its a potential recipe for disaster.  The last thing you need to concern yourself with is the food!

Food can be just another joy factor you get to experience! As a nutrition professional, it is SO important that I tell you:

there is no place at the table for food guilt.

How can we avoid the stress and switch our focus? Here are four tips to help:

Change the conversation.

“I’m not allowed to eat that!” “I’m having bread - I'm being so bad!” How often do you hear this and how often do you find yourself joining in? It’s so easy to bond over this type of conversation and dare I say, abnormal to own what you’re eating. But babe, OWN THAT SH*T. You’re allowed to eat what you’d like and more importantly, you’re allowed to enjoy your food. Try changing the direction of the conversation - ask someone about a TV show they’re watching, a podcast their listening to, or a project they might be starting. (My answers are Pose, What a Day pod, and my internship… in case you were wondering) See? People are vastly more interesting than what’s on their plate, and that includes you too.

Find your space.

If the noise gets too loud, give yourself permission to step away.  Whether you’re having guests or you are a guest, find a room where you can escape, breathe, and check in with yourself.  Listen to your favorite song in the bathroom. Do you, boo. Holidays can be overwhelming. Even a few minutes can help settle any feelings may come up, food or family related.

Choose your food, enjoy it.

How freaking lucky are you to have so much food to choose from?! Honor that and pick what you find satisfying. Seems obvious, right? But before you fill your plate, pause for a moment, be grateful, and ask yourself... “am I eating this because I want to, or because someone is insisting I do? Do I even like this option or am I just piling everything on? Am I avoiding a dinner roll simply because it’s *gasp* bread?” Eat the bread if you want it, skip it if you don’t.

Either way, enjoy every bite.

Remember, it’s just another day,

and just like any other - YOU are in control. Allowing food to increase holiday stress isn’t serving anyone. This is easier said than done, I get it, but let’s do a little experiment together: eat as you would in the morning while leaving yourself an appetite. Give your body the energy it needs to enjoy the day; don’t run on empty and risk being overwhelmed by food.

What else is a part of your routine? Do that. If you’re someone that enjoys movement, move! But don’t feel the need to let one day of eating dictate how much cardio you’re doing before or after.  It’s just another day.

Enjoy whatever you celebrate and tell me all about it!

If you have any questions or need a little extra guidance, feel free to email me at SimplifiesIt@gmail.com or DM me on instagram at @SimplifiesIt.