 This is absolutely my favorite time of year because it’s the holiday season! I love the cold weather, cozy atmospheres, snow, and of course all of the delicious foods! In my family, the food is one of the most important parts of the holiday planning. My mom always has a grocery list of all the foods that we need to make our holiday treats and she starts fulfilling it as soon as that holiday spirit kicks in. From preparing a Thanksgiving feast at my grandma’s house to my little sister constantly putting kolaches in the oven during Christmas time, there is no doubt that our holiday tables are always full of good eats.
While eating during this time of year is joyful for many people, it can unfortunately cause anxiety in others. This anxiety stems from living a society of diet culture. Our culture has done extremely thorough job of demonizing foods and categorizing them as “good” and “bad.” We are taught to feel guilty when we indulge in treats or that we need to “walk off” calories before we eat more. These food rules that society has drilled into us can take away the joy of eating and replace it with anxiety. If you are someone you suffers from food anxiety, I totally understand because that was me too. So how does one overcome this anxiety and build a healthy relationship with food? You may have heard the term “intuitive eating”. Intuitive eating is an evidence-based approach to eating that rejects diet mentality and focuses on how food makes you feel mentally and physically [1]. It relies on internal cues of hunger and satiety instead of external cues such as cognitive control or the influences of others [2]. The goal of intuitive intuitive eating is to be in-tune with what your body needs. Being in-tune with you body is something that takes practice. It is unlikely that one will be able to master this concept right away. While personally I am not a certified intuitive eating coach, I know of many dietitians out there who are and offer some great resources. I have attached some articles below that focus specifically on eating during the holidays. I encourage you to check them out if you are interested in learning more about eating guilt-free!
The holidays are a time of joy and celebration! Don't let diet culture or food-phobia take that joy away. We want you to enjoy your holidays and try some of our favorite recipes! Stay tuned for the release of our holiday appetizer cookbook coming soon! You do not want to miss out on these amazingly delicious recipes! Happy Holiday Prep Season! Sophia MS, RD Resources 1. Tribole, E. (2019, July 17). Definition of intuitive eating. Intuitive Eating. https://www.intuitiveeating.org/definition-of-intuitive-eating/ 2. The Influence of Mindful Eating and/or Intuitive Eating Approaches on Dietary Intake: A Systematic Review Grider, Hannah S. et al. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 121, Issue 4, 709 - 727.e1
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