Avoid the Thanksgiving Blues
I remember last year’s Thanksgiving dinner like it was yesterday. It was a cool and dreary day outside, yet so cozy inside. It was a celebration with family and friends. We cooked all day and the aromas wafting through the house were simply tantalizing. And the food…delicious. So I ate and ate and ate…to the point where I thought I would burst. Forget mindful eating, slowing down and reveling in it. I totally over did it. I’m talking totally and utterly uncomfortable. It just didn’t feel good.
Isn’t it amazing how easy it is to over do it? To not pay attention to what we’re eating and “chow down” without a notion of what and how much our bodies really needs. Truth be told, must of us have a penchant for overeating. We hardly need all the calories that we routinely consume. And even I can be guilty of this.
So the question is, how will you tune into your body on Thanksgiving and know when enough is enough? And this is true not only for Thanksgiving but for upcoming holiday parties and events where it’s typical to overindulge. What can you do differently this year to pace yourself?
One of my favorite approaches is to begin with the end in mind. When I walk into a party, I like to make a plan. When I say plan, I don’t mean that I’m going to be so controlled about my eating that I don’t enjoy myself, I really mean scoping things out in advance before digging in. What do I do? I like to survey all the food and see what looks the most appealing. And then I try to stick to small portions so I can sample lots of different things. And unlike my Thanksgiving binge last year, I’m usually good about eating some and then taking a break. That helps me get in touch with whether I need or just want another helping.
What will you do differently this year to avoid gorging yourself and then feeling bad? What’s one step you can take to be mindful about what you’re eating during the holidays?
Have ideas? Share them here and help inspire others!
Filed under: Digestion, Eating, Food, Meal Planning, Mindful Eating, Overindulging, Weight Management
Hi Wendy,
On Thanksgiving, when there are so many foods to choose from, I like to focus on the foods that I don’t usually eat at other times of year.
For example, I usually only eat roast turkey and cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving.
I feel like I can pass on some of the other food items: like mashed potatoes or biscuits, because I will eat those at other times of the year.
That helps me save room and calories! And then there’s room for pie.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Michelle