Between pies and huge family meals, staying on track with your nutrition can be a daunting task during the holidays. It doesn’t have to be this way though! Learn why it is beneficial to practice mindful eating around the Holidays.
Mindful Eating During the Holidays
The holidays are the most wonderful time of year spent with loved ones, but let’s face it; it can be stressful. Practicing mindful eating during meal times can help you stay aligned with nutrition goals, take the stress out of eating, and still enjoy life.
What is Mindful Eating?
Mindful eating is the practice of being fully aware of every aspect of eating and being in the present without distraction. (1)
Mindful eating shouldn’t feel restrictive. Instead, the focus will be on choosing foods that will offer value to your body while still choosing foods that you enjoy. Mindful eating is also recognizing and honoring hunger cues in a non-judgemental way.
When it comes to mindful eating, you must be able to check in with yourself asking questions such as:
- “Am I actually hungry?”
- “Will this food satisfy me?”
- “What nutritional value is this giving me?”
- “How much do I need?”
- “How will this make me feel after?”
- “Am I full?”
- “Can I pair something I’m craving that maybe isn’t the most healthy with something with more nutrition?”
By answering these questions and allowing your body to speak to you, you are taking FULL control of your eating habits. This can be liberalizing knowing that you and only you have the power to decide what foods you have and how much.
How Can Mindful Eating Help You?
Mindful eating will give you food freedom. During the holidays, it is often very stressful with delicious sweets around, higher calorie meals, and maybe having self-control with favorite items that you only prepare on the Holidays.
Listening to your own hunger cues and acknowledging how you are feeling will take the stress out of eating and will be beneficial in helping you reach your goals.
Have you ever tried a diet that was restrictive, and ALL you could think of was the food you could enjoy when you are off the diet? That’s exactly why most diets do not work; they are too restrictive. With mindful eating, you can eat whatever you are craving without breaking any “rules.”
The important part of mindful eating is eating with intention. For example, when you are full but there is still food on your plate, acknowledge how your body is feeling at that moment and decide if you should save the rest for later.
How To Start Mindful Eating?
Luckily you do not have to do any crazy detoxes or fasts to start mindful eating. You can start right now by just being more mindful!
Before your next meal, ask yourself the questions mentioned above. What can fuel you with the nutrients you need while still being satisfied?
Mindful eating is a super easy and stress-free way to reach your goals, but you must put an effort into being mindful as this behavior change doesn’t happen overnight. Meeting with a dietitian can help you discover these cues and help you through challenges you may have with mindful eating.
Eat Mindfully During the Holidays with Power Portions
Are you used to following diets and need help figuring out how mindful eating can work for you? The dietitians at Power Portions can help you establish what nutrients your body needs and work with you to establish a healthy relationship with food. Let’s get started BEFORE the holidays. Sign up for your free consultation at gopowerportions.com to see how we can help you.
