Healthy Holiday Eating

Healthy Holiday Eating - Food and festivity will always be a part of the holiday season.

By Rebecca Mueller

Food and festivity will always be a part of the holiday season, and that’s a great thing! In the months of November to January many of us have multiple holiday gatherings to attend - all in celebration of the blessed birth of Christ. So it’s not hard to understand why so many people fall into poor eating habits around the holidays. As a result, people gain a little or a lot of weight around this time of year. What’s to blame? Perhaps it’s all the tempting goodies available during the season and the pressure from others to overeat. Everywhere we go someone is waiting to joyfully hand out chocolate and Christmas cookies. Or maybe it’s the increased emotional eating (whether from holiday stress or holiday joy) or extreme laxity with physical activities because of the busyness of the year. And surely it would too rude to refuse? After all it’s the holidays, right?
Because the holiday season can also be a very stressful time for many, we are going to need all of the energy and stamina we can get to cope with this time of year. That’s why it’s all the more important that we be intentional about eating the right types of nutrients to deal with the stress and eat the way God intended.    
Consider these tips for fully enjoying the holiday season in a healthy way!
Narrow down your options 

If you attend a gathering that is offering a lot of sugary treats.  Find one or two of your favorite holiday goodies and enjoy them! After that, call it quits on desserts.
Eat regularly
If you are going to a big party or dinner, don’t starve yourself all day in anticipation. If you do, you're in danger of arriving there feeling ravenous and eating everything in sight. Instead, consume a balanced breakfast (egg, toast, and fresh fruit) and a reasonable lunch (sandwich and fresh vegetables/fruit) so your blood sugar doesn’t drop and cause even more sugar cravings.
Be assertive
Don't feel as though you have to say yes to everyone that offers you food. If you are not hungry, then simply say so. Peer pressure can influence some of our food choices around the holidays, so be aware.
Prepare for outings
If you have some big meals planned over the holiday season, try to have as many routinely healthy meals as possible leading up to the event. Then when you attend the gathering you can enjoy all the special entrées and treats - within moderation. Many of us think that we might as well forget about healthy eating over the holidays instead of realizing that we shouldn’t forget all about our healthy habits. It’s a time to simply manage them a little more carefully.
Have a happy and healthy holiday season. And don’t forget in the hustle and bustle the reason for the season. Fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess (Heb 3:1).