Holiday Eating
To many, the holidays are about food, fun, and celebrating. However, some come to dread the holidays because of the guilt they feel about indulging in favourite festive foods. This guilt is called food shame, and it is common.
Here are 4 tips to help you feel less guilty while eating your holiday favourites
- Be Mindful – Pay attention to hunger and fullness. This can empower you to make healthy choices and allow for more enjoyment and appreciation of the food. Be present with the food and take time to enjoy it whether alone or with your family and friends.
- Nourish yourself – Eat satisfying foods regularly throughout the day. This includes short (carbs) and long (protein, fat) energy foods. Include a variety of carbs, protein, fat, fibre, and vitamins and minerals. This helps maintain your body’s energy and mood levels. This also prevents extreme hunger or binging later in the day.
- Be kind to yourself – Choose nourishing food while allowing your favourite foods without guilt. We eat different foods for different reasons, and this is normal and okay.
- Keep moving – Move in a way that you enjoy, involve your friends or family if you wish. Fresh air is great if it is even for a few minutes.
Remember, dieting and restricting food intake can lead to eating more than you intended. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate the endless messaging of needing to control your food intake. Take time and enjoy all your favourite flavours of the holiday season!
Registered Dietitians
Brittney Bartecki and Chantal Morais