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retaining your sanity during the holidays

Everywhere I go on social media this month I see posts on how to stick to your dietary plan over the holidays, nasty ingredients that are in your favorite dishes, and recipes for healthier options.  I'm all for eating healthier (obviously!) but aren't the holidays stressful enough?  

Case in point: one of my family favorites at Thanksgiving is a corn pudding that we've been eating for as long as I can remember.  It's pretty basic—corn, butter, yogurt, and a corn muffin mix packet.  I saw a post this week on the ingredients in the corn muffin mix that was quite horrifying, along with a link to a healthier option you could use.  The price difference?  Twelve dollars!  Now, I'm all for healthier options (especially the gluten-free varieties), and quite honestly, I don't recommend eating corn muffins—even the twelve dollar ones—at all, but if you're only eating them once a year, why break the bank and stress over it?

I will be making the cheaper version this year, enjoying a small amount, and staying away from most corn products again after Thanksgiving.  I know I'll feel a little extra inflammation for a few days afterwards, and that's exactly why I don't eat it most of the time, but it's the price I'm willing to pay.

Another example: I often make cauliflower mash for dinner, and my family enjoys it and has no problem with it.  However, if I were to make that in place of mashed potatoes on Turkey Day, there would be mass mutiny in my house.  It's one day, and it's made from scratch and whole ingredients.  Why stress about it?

As for desserts, I don't go crazy making dozens of different varieties anymore.  I used to make a bunch of low-carb options, but then I'd be the only one eating them.  I don't need to eat a whole pie or plate of cookies myself, so instead I make two or three family favorites, enjoy the heck out of a couple servings, and move on.  Again, I make them from scratch, avoiding all the preservatives and other additives in ultra-processed foods, and we only eat them once a year.

I've often heard, it's not what you do between Christmas (or Thanksgiving) and New Year's, it's what you do between New Year's and Christmas that counts.

The holidays are about spending time with friends and family and giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives.  It's not about stressing over all the details, and it's really not about stuffing ourselves silly either.   

Here are my top tips for enjoying your holiday season:
  1. Pare down your celebrations.  You don't have to be a gourmet cook or have a spotless house to host a fabulous get-together.  Potlucks are a lot of fun, nobody cares how clean your baseboards are, and all anyone really cares about is spending time together.
  2. It's ok to say no if you really don't want to go.  You're an adult, and you get to decide what you want to do with your Friday and Saturday evenings.  Really.  I promise.
  3. It's ok to do all your shopping online.  I know, carbon footprint and all, but if Amazon isn't doing the driving, you are.  Sometimes you have to let things go.  Along the same lines, do you really have to shop for every extended family member and go to every white elephant party?  If you really do, gift cards go a long way.  Every teacher I know would love to get gift cards.  I'm pretty sure the teenagers in your life would too. ;)
  4. Make sure you're still prioritizing your protein every day.  If you want pie, you have to eat your turkey first.  (Remember—at least 100 grams per day!)
  5. Sleep as much as you can.  Mom was right—it's the ultimate healer, and will make everything else easier.
  6. Get some exercise everyday, preferably outside.  Sunshine, fresh air, and a little sweat help boost your mood, your immune system, and your detoxifying pathways.
Happy holidays, friends!

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