Holidays can be stressful. The holidays often mean traveling or hosting. Whether traveling or hosting, holidays often means changing routines and new environments. The holidays often mean eating foods you don’t normally eat. Holidays can prompt cravings for things you’re used to eating. It can cause you to feel out of control. It can even lead to weight gain.
I’m an intuitive eater. I’m an intuitive eater who believes in treating food as fuel and nourishment. I don’t believe that food should be enjoyed, but I also don’t believe that food should make you feel bad. This holiday season, I want to share some tips with you on how to navigate the holidays with intuitive eating.
1. Make your meals delicious. One of the easiest ways to sabotage yourself around food is to try to avoid eating it. When you feed your body with love and nourishment, you are more likely to feel satisfied and full.
2. Enjoy your food. It can be tempting to over indulge. However, with intuitive eating, you are encouraged to eat until you feel satisfied.
3. Minimize your exposure to triggers. Avoid situations that trigger emotional eating. If family gatherings are triggering, then don’t go. If social events are triggering, then don’t go. If eating in restaurants is triggering, then don’t go.
4. Remove yourself from situations that make you uncomfortable. It’s ok to say no to uncomfortable situations.
5. Don’t beat yourself up for slip ups. It’s important to eat mindfully. If you eat mindfully, you are more likely to notice when you are full.
6. Prepare a healthy snack ahead of time. If you normally eat a lot of baked goods, or you eat out of the house a lot, try packing some healthier snacks. When you’re hungry, reach for a snack that’s satisfying and right-sized.
7. Have fun!
