Another holiday season is upon us, and for many
of us who pay comparatively close attention to the food we put in our bodies,
this can mean increased temptation, frustration, and even regret (hence the
huge amount of New Years’ healthy eating resolutions!). Most holidays in
general are food-centered, and Fall/Winter holidays are no exception. Big meals
with family and friends can be the highlights of this time of year.
Problems
can sometimes arise when you are faced with multiple possibilities to OVEReat
and/or eat foods you’d rather not. As a result, larger concepts than food come
into play during this time of year, like restriction, discipline, and wellness,
which I’d like to weigh in on.
Restriction.
People often mistake decisions to eat healthier and/or more
ethically/environmentally as restrictive. I devoted an entire podcast episode
to this entitled “Making
the Trade.” In it I argue that you are not in fact giving up anything when
you decide to pay closer attention to what you put in your body, but are
trading certain foods for feeling better. I give you cheese, you give me more
energy and less allergies. When sitting with friends and family at a table that
contains foods you don’t want to eat (not CAN’T eat, but won’t eat—there’s a
very real difference), keep this in mind. The choices you are making affect
your life long after the meal. Eating without regret or guilt means feeling
better about your life—less stress, healthier body and mind, get it?
Discipline.
In my practice I advocate for making small steps to greater health and
happiness. The reason why most diets and quick-fix plans fail is because they
move us too quickly ahead in behavior change. They are ‘all or nothing’
approaches that simply set us up for failure. The ‘beating ourselves into
submission’ (e.g. by sticking to a diet and missing out on a holiday meal, and
then running ourselves into the ground in spin class the next day to somehow
‘undo’ the damage) reality of these ‘plans’ generally leads to burnout,
unhappiness, and often to binge or emotional eating later down the line. Easing
your way into behaviors by incorporating small manageable steps allows you to
be in control of the speed with which you improve your life, and puts you in a
place of self-care and self-support. This means making it OK to enjoy meals
that aren’t necessarily the physically healthiest, but give us great joy.
Wellness. I
believe that we are all designed to be healthy and happy, and that in that
state we are in balance with the world and ourselves. However, in the modern
world we are bombarded with a huge amount of activities (e.g. big holiday
meals) and foods that create great imbalance in us. The very foods that are the
least healthy, least ethical, and least environmentally friendly are the most
accessible, cheapest, and ubiquitous on holiday meal tables. Also, the least
healthy foods for our bodies (I call them light-box foods) get us the most
high, and it can be super hard to avoid these when they’re right in front of
us. This fact can create conflict because, frankly, the temptation can be so
great.
So….
As you head
into the holidays, remember this… your level of health and happiness is
determined by what you do MOST OF THE TIME (I refer to this as your MOTT),
meaning that a meal here or there isn’t going to make much of a long-term
difference one way or another. Be crystal clear with yourself about why you are
making the choices you make, and about the person you want to be. Most people
I’ve coached don’t want to be restrictive, militant people—they want to be the
kind of people that have a feast with friends and family now and then because
that makes them feel good and happy too. If eating a certain food sacrifices an
ethical decision you’ve made, then certainly it’ll make you feel better to NOT
eat that food, but, again, that’s neither restriction nor discipline, but a
choice that makes you feel good.
Holidays at
their core are about celebration, and I think it can be super fun to indulge a
bit here and there without guilt, regret, or shame. Lastly, remember that food
is just ONE part of holidays. Time with family and friends creates incredible
memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Taking the pressure
off yourself food-wise (i.e. not being stressed about food, and not devoting a
ton of mental energy to it) means more energy devoted to time spent with the
people you love.
Sid
Garza-Hillman, the Small Step Advocate™, is the author of “Approaching the
Natural: A Health Manifesto,” and host of the popular Approaching the Natural Podcast with
listeners in over 80 countries. He graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in
Philosophy, and for over a decade after college, worked as a musician and actor
with a growing interest in nutrition. Sid is now a Certified Nutritionist and
Health Coach. He works with private clients all over the country, helping them
take control of their lives through his private practice. He is also the
Nutritionist and Programs Director at the Wellness Center at the Stanford Inn,
North America’s only vegan eco-resort (stanfordinn.com).
Sid’s
Website: www.sidgarzahillman.com
Approaching
the Natural Podcast: www.sidgarzahilman.com/podcasts/
Sid on
Twitter/Instagram: @sidgarzahillman
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