Eating Around the Holidays: Enjoying Food Without the Stress
The holiday season is a wonderful (and often busy) time filled with seeing our loved
ones, meaningful traditions, and of course, lots of delicious food often shared with
our family and friends. From delicious backyard barbecues, festive Christmas
dinners, and the sweets and refreshing drinks involved, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed
by all the eating that happens over the Christmas and New Years period.
Here’s an insider tip, you can enjoy your holiday food without feeling guilty or
stressed! With a little awareness and balance, you can still relax over Christmas and
enjoy your favourite festive foods, while still feeling good physically, and emotionally.
Here are 5 simple and easy tips to keep in mind this festive season, to ease the
stress around holiday eating.
- Enjoy Your Favorite Foods — Mindfully
Holidays come with special dishes you may only have once a year. Instead of
avoiding them, try enjoying them mindfully. This means slowing down, really tasting
each bite, and appreciating the flavours and memories that come with the food.
When you eat slowly, your body has time to sense fullness, and you often end up
feeling satisfied with less.
Mindful eating also helps you stay connected to your hunger and fullness signals.
Before eating, or going back for a second serving of the meal, ask yourself: Am I
hungry, or am I just eating because food is here? Asking yourself this will help you
be more aware and help you to make more intentional choices over the Christmas
period. - Don’t Skip Meals to “Save Up”
Have you ever thought ‘I’ll skip breakfast today because there will be a lot of food at
Christmas lunch/dinner’? It’s very common for people to skip breakfast or lunch
before a big Christmas meal, with the intention to save calories for the main meal.
Skipping meals can backfire and cause you to be excessively hungry by the time the
main meal is served, meaning you’re more likely to overeat quickly, which can leave
you feeling uncomfortable.
Eating regular meals throughout the day, especially meals with protein, fibre, and
healthy fats, helps keep your energy steady and prevents extreme hunger, reducing
the likelihood of overeating at the main Christmas meals. For example, try starting
your day out with eggs and toast or yoghurt and fruit, instead of just a drink or
something smaller. - Add Balance to Your Plate
Balance doesn’t mean avoiding treats; it means including a mix of foods that help
you feel good and satisfied. This way of structuring your plate helps you stay satisfied and energized while being mindful of your health goals. Aiming for half a plate of vegetables isn’t about dieting, it’s about giving your body nutrients, so you feel better and satisfied throughout the day.
At meals, try to include:- Protein (chicken, steak, fish, tofu, turkey)
- Vegetables (salads, roasted veggies)
- Carbohydrates (potatoes, bread, pasta)
- A little fun (your favourite holiday dessert or dish)
- Stay Hydrated
With all the excitement in talking with friends and family, the busyness in preparing
food, it’s easy to forget to drink water during the day. Being dehydrated can cause us
to feel tired quicker in the day and can even cause us to feel hungrier leading up to
meals. This is because our body can sometimes confuse thirst for hunger, which
could then cause us to overeat at meals.
Try having a glass of water before and after meals, or between coffees or holiday
drinks. Staying hydrated also helps digestion, which is especially helpful when eating
heavier foods than usual.
- Be Kind to Yourself
Many people worry about holiday eating or feel guilty after enjoying big meals. But
food is a key part of celebration, culture, and community. One or two days of festive
eating won’t harm your health. Stress and guilt are often more damaging than the
food itself.
Instead of focusing on perfection, focus on enjoyment, connection, and how you feel.
If you eat more than planned, that’s okay. Christmas is one day a year, it’s important
that we enjoy this special time with our loved ones.
