This time of year can be challenging for those of us who maintain a healthy, whole-food diet year-round. It’s not that we’re necessarily tempted by chocolates full of refined sugar, but sometimes we are can it is difficult to find something to eat at the holidays or to politely refuse the fruitcake forced upon us by well-meaning relatives. With a few tips and tricks at the ready, it’s possible to celebrate a healthy holiday and feel alive throughout.
Here in Canada (where you’ll find the Academy of Culinary Nutrition headquarters), we kick off the holiday season the second week of October during Canadian Thanksgiving – and the intensity only picks up after Halloween.
Unless you decide to give up on the holidays altogether, the reality is that you may be faced with some uncomfortable or less than ideal eating situations. Here are some of our best suggestions for how to celebrate healthy holidays this year.
how to celebrate healthy holidays
Host healthy holiday get-togethers at your home
The obvious way to avoid foods you know aren’t health-promoting is to offer to host the meal at your home. Of course, we realize that this is not always the case easier choice, especially since whole food cooking involves making a lot of things from scratch. However, if you’re used to healthy cooking and enjoy doing it, hosting the meal on your own lawn is a beautiful way to share delicious, nutritious food with the people you care about.
If you’re cooking for the health conscious, fear not – their taste buds won’t be able to tell the difference if:
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Offer an honest but diplomatic explanation of your food choices at gatherings
Photo: Gabriel Gurrola via Unsplash
Sharing food is one of the ways we all like to express love and appreciation. When others perceive you rejecting their food or judging the way they eat, they may feel difficult or hurt.
It is useful to explain that you are working on your health and that means there are certain foods that disagree with you. If you’re attending a meal with close family and friends, chances are they already know a lot about you and the way you eat, so this news won’t come as a surprise.
When you’re with people you don’t know very well, explain your situation clearly and diplomatically, but never criticize or preach to them. Just as you would want people to respect your way of eating, you can’t force kale on people unless they are ready to take it.
If you find yourself with family or friends who refuse to accept your lifestyle and criticize you for your ways, remember that their behavior isn’t about you – it’s about them, so try not to take their judgment or teasing personally. Don’t eat anything you don’t want to in order to diffuse a situation or make someone else feel better. If you feel awful or have to run to the bathroom with diarrhea, that’s not really helping anyone!
Call ahead
Don’t show up at an aunt’s house and ask for special treatment unannounced. Call and explain any dietary restrictions you have to your host and suggest solutions you have to address them. For example, you could offer to bring an appetizer or dessert, or ask if items like dressings or sauces could be left on the side for guests to add to their own dishes.
Bring a delicious dish to share
Don’t isolate yourself with a specially prepared meal. Bring a huge casserole dish to share the healthy goodness with everyone else. For example, this Shepherd’s pie it’s always a crowd pleaser, and it’s hearty enough to serve as your introducer and a side for everyone else. It’s also hard to turn down mashed sweet potatoes or a plate of cookies.
Find out more about how to create a healthy pot dish here.
Feed yourself well during non-holiday meals
Image: iStock/Kuvona
While it may seem like the holiday season is around the clock, there are plenty of opportunities outside of the holidays where you can focus on fueling yourself with foods you know support your health.
When we’re not celebrating, we like to focus on anti-inflammatory, immune-supporting, and digestive-friendly stuff like:
It can help to do some meal prep and menu planning so you have nutritious foods ready during those non-holiday meals.
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Add movement to your day
Sure, it’s cozy to curl up in blankets in front of the fire, but we want to keep that circulation going. Movement during our healthy holidays doesn’t have to be excessive or rigorous – a short walk, light stretching or even some seated exercises can be a big help.
Don’t forget to stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is key to year-round health, and sometimes we don’t think about it as much during the cooler months or the holiday season. Drink water throughout the day, setting a timer on your phone or whatever else you need as a reminder. Other hydration drinks to help you have a healthy vacation include:
Try not to stress too much
Try not to stress about a healthy holiday – stress inhibits digestion and is not helpful for our overall health. Do your best and maintain a positive attitude at all of your holiday meals. The point of this time of year is to relax with your family, so don’t worry about the food and focus on other ways to enjoy the company of your loved ones.
Tell us what you think! How do you deal with holidays around your home?
