Post Holiday: Healthy Approach to Eating

As we return from a well-deserved holiday, you might be adjusting to having eaten differently during the holidays.

First and foremost, that is okay. The essence of eating is to nourish and support you in whatever capacity you need. It is okay if your eating habits looked different over the last couple of weeks, and it is okay if you aren't feeling your best in your body.

Here are a few simple strategies to help you reset after this period:

Let Go of Judgment

Remember, this is just food, and it's only a moment in time. At the end of the day, it doesn't define you. Periods of time and sensations in our body can change. As living, breathing beings, we have the ability to change how we feel each and every day. Just because you feel this way today doesn't mean that you will feel this way tomorrow.

Go Back to the Foundations

Whenever we want to reconnect with our body and our relationship with food, we aim to return to the fundamentals that food provides to support us. This is how we can start bringing our body back into balance and feeling good about it. Each day, we want to assess how the food is serving us. Here are some simple ways to help food support our physiology:

Eat a minimum of three times per day

Include a combination of protein, good fats, and fiber (from grains and veggies) to balance blood sugar. This can help sustain energy and prevent drops in blood sugar that can lead to sugar cravings. Moreover, this helps keep our stress hormones regulated throughout the day.

Focus on a wide array of veggies with meals

Incorporating a diverse range of vegetables into your meals, as this not only adds vibrant flavors and textures but also plays a pivotal role in bolstering your immune function and mitigating inflammation. The rich array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in vegetables contributes to overall health, providing your body with the essential nutrients it needs to function optimally.

Drink lots of water

Beyond quenching your thirst, staying well-hydrated supports your body's elimination pathways, promoting the efficient functioning of vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. Water plays a crucial role in flushing out toxins, aiding digestion, and ensuring that your body operates smoothly.

Avoid Restrictions and Limitations

Restricting and imposing limitations can trigger emotional responses that may lead to overeating and binge-eating. In a way, restrictions perpetuate a cycle of cravings, making it feel like we don’t have control over what we are eating. Instead of focusing on removing items from your diet, concentrate on adding things in to ensure you are getting enough throughout the day and the proper combination of nutrients. When our body has what it needs, it can decrease cravings and give us a sense of having more choice in what we are eating.

A Final Word

By incorporating these practices, you not only reset your relationship with food but also empower yourself to make choices that promote sustained energy, emotional well-being, and a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle.

If you would like to learn more about how Naturopathic Medicine can help support your nutrition and healthy eating habits, you can book a consultation with me!