Holiday Meals
Holiday Eating Guide
It’s a wonderful time of year where we enjoy family and traditions. Let’s prepare to enjoy the holidays without taking steps backwards:
Key Points
It’s not one meal (or two) that cause long term health changes
Prep for the season by developing sustainable good habits that you’re eager to return to once your schedule is back to normal
Use what you’ve learned to sow into the health of your family and friends
Over the past 5 or so years, Christmas with my wife’s family has a dependable menu:
Christmas Eve: Massive Charcuterie board for lunch and French onion soup for dinner
Christmas Day: Sausage balls, cinnamon rolls and OJ for breakfast and a whole tenderloin for dinner
By the end of Christmas Day I usually find myself uncomfortably stuffed. And I inevitably vow to never repeat that behavior again. I imagine this year will be equally difficult to resist. And while that behavior on those two days does not line up with my general intention to treat “food as medicine,” it does allow me to be present with my family and enjoy their invaluable fellowship.
I would like to offer a few strategies for minimizing any negative effects of holiday season festivities:
Drink less: While alcohol consumption does not confer any measurable health benefits at any dose, for many it remains an important part of culture and traditions. View it as a tool: to connect and relax, but think about halving the amount and enjoying it slowly.
Build up your habits before you enter the holidays. Eat a steady sustainable diet the days and weeks building up to your gatherings. This will make it easier for you to feel that difference between clean, reasonable portions and indulgent holidays meals - which make my brain happy and my belly miserable. You’ll be more likely to eagerly return to the habits you know make you feel great.
Think about small changes you can make to your holiday routines, that keep them more in line with your identity as a smart and healthy eater: For me that’s encouraging higher quality ingredients that can be consumed more thoughtfully. It’s also leading family outdoor activities every day .
Ultimately, Thanksgiving and Christmas are important times to connect with our family and friends. Connection is an important part of living and aging well. You can enjoy a few days of indulgence without worry, as long as you are bookending it with your healthy habits!
Merry Christmas,
Bryant
