It’s that time of year again! Time for family, fun and that’s right – lots of food! Between thanksgiving and New Year’s the opportunities for indulgence are everywhere! And, this makes it very hard to stay on any healthy eating path. Read on for tips to help you eat healthy through the holidays.

Now, I’m not trying to tell anyone to give up their grandma’s special glazed ham or not to try the amazing dessert everyone is raving about at the party. Of course it’s advised to continue your healthy eating practices, but the holidays are full of tasty temptations and we are only human. There are just so many times we can walk by the dessert table without trying something! So go ahead and have a bite or two. But, first, a little advice on how to minimize the consequences of over a month of indulgences.

Prepare for Parties

Have you ever not eaten all day because you were going to a party at night? This is a surefire way to sabotage your good eating intentions! Instead try eating your normal breakfast and lunch so you don’t arrive at the party starving and crazed from low blood sugar. This way, when you get to the party, you can focus on gathering and chatting instead of stuffing your face.

If possible, hang away from the food tables. It is easier to not overeat chips and dips and other goodies when they aren’t right in front of us. And, choose a small plate to help keep portion sizes small.

There are two supplements that may help prevent stomach upset if you anticipate overeating. I take probiotics every day, but they are especially important when in the overindulgence zone.

My favorite probiotic supplements are Prescript Assist and Just Thrive. Learn more about probiotics here.

Digestive Enzymes can be an absolute lifesaver for people with digestive issues. But, they can be helpful for anyone who needs a bit of extra digestive power. Sounds like everyone at a holiday party to me. 😉

I find Digestive Enzymes help quite a bit when I’m eating gluten and sugar and all kinds of stuff I don’t normally eat. Learn more about digestive enzymes here.

My favorite digestive enzymes are Smidge Digestive Enzymes. They also make one for people who don’t produce enough stomach acid. Try Smidge HCL + Enzymes.

Practice Mindful Eating

What is mindful eating you ask? This means checking in with yourself while eating, at the party or wherever.

Ask yourself some questions. Are you really hungry? Do you still need to eat? Are you eating because you are hungry or because it tastes good? Are you finishing what’s on your plate because you don’t want to waste food or offend the hosts? Are you stress eating because cousin Phil said something rude?

Do a little introspection on how you are feeling mentally and physically. And then make a conscious decision to stop or continue eating. And if you are eating just because it tastes good, try to really savor just two or three bites instead of a giant serving.

I know this is easier said than done, especially when you are first starting. You can set a timer on your phone or watch for every half hour or hour to remind you to check in. Or, make a game of it. Every time you hear someone say “Cheers” stop and think about your food choices. You may not stay on your diet at the party, but chances are you will eat better while practicing mindful eating.

Start Eating Good Again ASAP

OK, so you had a bad day, or a bad weekend, of eating. It’s bound to happen. But, get back on track as soon as possible. Don’t let a few days of indulgence turn into a few weeks or longer. Even if you only get three or four good days in before the next round of parties.

This is not always easy. Once we’ve gotten the sugar and gluten cravings started again it can be hard to kick them – again. Keep your healthy favorites in the house so you can get back on track the very next day. One of my favorite healthy snacks is homemade maple glazed nuts. This can make a tasty gift for anyone, but especially that friend who is also trying to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle!

For me, it is the sugar cravings. I know my body is craving sugar when I think I feel hungry 1/2 hour after eating. The maple nuts are a great sweet and salty mix. But if I know I don’t really need to eat and what I really need is a sugar fix, my new favorite way to stop the sugar cravings is with a cup of homemade hot chocolate made without toxic sugars.

Ingredients:
2 Cups unsweetened milk of choice – whole, almond, coconut, oat milk etc.
1/8 tsp 100% Monk fruit powder
2 Tbs unsweetened cacao powder
2 Tbs real maple syrup
Optional:
1 scoop Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen
Splash of cream

Directions:
1. Start warming the milk in a small saucepan on low to medium heat.
2. Add the cacao powder, maple syrup, and monk fruit powder. Stir until well combined. It can look lumpy at this stage if the milk isn’t warm enough. Just keep stirring often, as it warms it will combine.
3. When it’s warm, add the collagen and stir until dissolved.
4. When it is hot enough for you, remove from heat and add a splash of cream – coconut cream is good here too!

So, prepare properly for the parties, practice mindful eating at the parties, and keep your house prepared to get back on track right away.

Don’t Forget the Post-Party Detox!

I’m not suggesting you do an intensive detox during the holiday season. That’s for January! 😉

But, our bodies can definitely benefit from a little detoxing after a day or an evening of indulgence and excess.

Drink Your Water!!!

Drinking water is one of the best and easiest things we can all do all the time, but especially if we have not been great with our eating and drinking habits. And it is a very safe way to help our children detox after too much sugar and unhealthy eating, also!

Probiotics are good daily for children and adults to help with nutrient absorption, but, especially after a party to help with the digestive stress of overindulgence.

Whether you had a little too much alcohol at the party or not, Perfect Liver Detox Support is a great way to help your body with some detoxification after too much indulgence.

Chlorella powder is a great detox supplement. It is high in chlorophyll and a variety of beneficial vitamins and minerals, while it also binds to toxins so that they can safely be eliminated. Capsules are definitely easier for this busy time of year, but you can also opt for powder  – especially if you’re making daily smoothies anyway. For an even greater variety of nutrients, try chlorella and spirulina combined in Perfect Aquatic Greens.

You don’t have to do all of the above, pick your favorites! Your body will thank you for any post party detox you adopt.

Hope you are successful at staying on your healthy living journey this holiday season!