Savor The Feast: The Dos And Don’ts of Festive Eating!

As we welcome the season of joy and, of course, celebrations, we can’t leave the feasting behind! I’m sure you’ve started to attend holiday parties or begun hosting them already. As the holiday season approaches, the aroma of delicious meals has begun to waft from the neighbors’ kitchens, tempting us to indulge; just a bit.

It’s natural to want to enjoy the festivities (read: festive treats), but it’s equally important to find a balance between enjoying meals mindfully and overindulging just because it’s the holiday season.

Holidays often bring with it a buffet of feelings and emotions, but overindulging in anything; be it emotions, desires, or food, can never turn out to be in our favor. Excessive eating or eating out of guilt, discomfort, and anxiety can cause your mental health to falter, especially if you’re already living with eating disorders.

It’s critical to listen to your body, eat moderately, and place the joy of the holiday season over the quantity of the food that you serve on your plate.

Today, we’re exploring the dos and don’ts of festive eating, so you can rest assured that your holiday season will go healthy without compromising your well-being.

The Dos of Festive Eating

If you’re celebrating the holidays with an eating disorder, then be careful to approach the festive meals with care. Choose more nourishing meals that offer comfort without being too much of a trigger for negative emotions. Here’s what you can do when feasting on festive meals;

1. Serve Mindful Portions

Make sure you serve yourself small and mindful portions of food to savor the aroma, flavors, and of course, the taste, without feeling too overwhelmed all at once.

2. Keep it Balanced

Also, make sure you create a well-balanced meal or plate where you mix proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits in there. You have to make sure you get the best of both worlds without compromising your palette.

3. Stay Hydrated

Don’t forget to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water between meals and during meals. This can help you avoid overeating and also help in digestion. Water can be a great medium to see if you’re still hungry after a course.

4. Listen to Your Body

We tend to overeat because we like the taste of the food or because we want to keep others company, even when we’re full. Pay attention to your hunger and fullness cues. If you’re hungry, only then eat, but if you’re already full, know that it’s time to stop. Allow your body to guide your meals.

5. Choose Nutrients

Try to choose more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains to fill your body’s hunger needs. You don’t need to indulge in foods that are going to eventually harm your body’s natural balance.

6. Enjoy Your Experience

Lastly, you can’t enjoy a festive feast if you don’t enjoy the experience. Try to focus on the joy of the season, the company of your cherished friends and family, and the wholesome experience of being with your loved ones and sharing meals.

The Don’ts of Festive Eating

If you tend to overindulge in festive meals, then you need to pay attention to foods that might trigger your negative emotions. You also need to avoid processed foods and too many sugary treats that can harm your health. Here’s what you should avoid when enjoying a holiday meal;

1. Do Not Overload Your Plate

Resist the temptation of piling your plate with excessive food items. You don’t need to eat too much at the beginning of every meal. Try to finish a little before you add more to your plate. This can help you avoid overindulgence.

Also Read: Mini-Guide: Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

2. Do Limit Sugary Treats

I know it can be hard to avoid those amazing gingerbread cookies and grandma’s fruit cake. It’s OK to enjoy desserts, but be mindful of consuming excessive sugary treats. These treats, while yummy, can contribute to energy crashes and stomach discomfort.

3. Watch What You Drink

Try to limit alcohol consumption during holiday meals. Excessive drinking is a common occurrence during the festive season, but it can also impair your judgment and lead to overeating; which we don’t want.

Also Read: Binge Drinking: How Does Drinking Too Much Affect Your Overall Well Being?

4. Watch Out For Mindless Snacking

It’s common to hunt for and eat snacks in between meals. I do this quite often, I’d like to admit, but mindless snacking can cause overeating as well. Instead, try to focus on planned and well-balanced meals.

5. Do Not Skip Meals

This is one of the most common things we do to avoid overeating. We tend to skip meals, but it’s the last thing you should do. Skipping meals now could cause overeating later in the day. Stick to your regular meal times, as this can help maintain a balanced diet and avoid overeating.

6. Do Not Restrict Your Diet

During the holiday season, we tend to eat more than the normal amount, and to avoid this, we might put restrictions on our diet. Again, this is the last thing you should do. Instead of restricting your diet, try to eat moderately and in balanced amounts. It’s time to enjoy the festivities without the guilt.

Happy Holidays!

As we near the end of the year, remember that festive eating is more about the experience of spending time with cherished friends and family than just the food. It’s the best time to create memories, share laughter, and be grateful for the company of your loved ones.

This holiday season, in holiday parties, try to approach your meals with mindfulness and balance. You can indulge in the meals without compromising your well-being. It’s OK to indulge, but never to overindulge.

We, here at Calm Sage, wish you a season of joy, contentment, and mindful feasting! We hope this article can help you find the right balance between indulgence and mindful eating this holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Take Care and Stay Safe!

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