Sunday Inspiration: Enjoy!

enjoy!

“Mark the holidays by spending time with people you love, and try not to fret too much about what you have for dinner.” -Cara Rosenbloom

Here’s a riddle: During the holidays, what is both immensely enjoyable and terribly troubling?

Give up? The answer is food.

The food during the holidays is so delicious, and yet it comes with a steep price for many of us: guilt, shame, and anxiety.

Last week I read an article in our local paper via the Washington Post, This year, try enjoying every bite of festive food, that helped me shed several pounds of guilt. Here’s the short version but be sure to read the entire article.

  • I deserve to enjoy holiday meals without guilt. Hallelujah! Instead of feeling guilty, let’s focus on really enjoying and appreciating what we’re eating, how it tastes, smells, looks.
  • What I eat every day matters most. We can develop a healthy diet that we stick to in our day-to-day lives so we can relax and enjoy meals during the holidays.
  • I have the power to control my portions. We don’t have to eat just to eat. Instead, we can be aware of when you are full or near full and stop eating.
  • I have the right to eat seconds or to say “no thank you” when I’m full. Trust yourself and your appetite.
  • It’s normal if I overindulge during the holidays. “Aimer la vie,” as the French say.
  • I will eat when I’m hungry, not when I’m feeling emotional. The two definitely don’t mix well together.
  • I don’t need to “healthify” my beloved and traditional holiday recipe. The traditions are more important than low sugar and whole wheat.
  • I will not comment on the size or weight of my friends or relatives. Judging wins no popularity contests.
  • I will enjoy quality time with people I love. This is the best part of meals and the holidays.

I wish you a guiltless, shameless, low anxiety, mindful, and joyful holiday.

4 Comments

  1. Sharon Forbes on December 17, 2017 at 3:24 am

    I really enjoyed this, thank you. It is all so true, and like my grandfather used to say, everything in moderation. I apply this to my food intake, if I want something, I have it, but just a small portion of whatever it is I’m hungry for.

  2. Edythe and Samuel Newman on December 17, 2017 at 11:52 am

    Hi Emilie,
    What a beautiful message you left today. You and your family have a very happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year.

  3. Nita Voleski on December 17, 2017 at 12:13 pm

    Enjoyed reading this. It’s so much about being with people you love, because when you are, it doesn’t matter what is served.
    Merry Christmas everyone!

  4. Nancy Lepri on December 17, 2017 at 2:11 pm

    Life’s too short…eat dessert first!!!!

    Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2018!

    Hugs, Nancy

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