Coping with the Feast
When facing the threat of that most terrifying of holiday events, the family dinner, there are 2 main areas of concern – coping with the feast and coping with family members.
But a bit of thoughtful pre-event planning guarantees you will weather the event relatively (yes, I really said that) intact. These meals feel fraught with peril for those that are on reducing diets, coping with blood sugar issues like Diabetes, tend toward compulsive eating, or have special food plans due to food allergies or intolerances. And despite the warm inviting images splashed across the Hallmark Network, many feel tremendous distress when facing the possibility of a meal with their extended family. This installment focuses on the meal. Let’s talk about a few strategies that work well.
Hosting. One strategy is, of course, to host the event yourself. I realize I just suggested massive expense, cleaning, and prep but the home field advantage is a very effect choice. Consider hosting a covered dish type gathering and share the workload with everyone coming. Preparing the main course yourself, however, guarantees that your dietary restrictions will be satisfied and you’ll have something yummy to eat.
Decline the Invitation. If hosting the event is out of the question but attending is so stress producing it feels all but impossible to show up, you may want to consider “suddenly coming down with a violent stomach flu”, making it completely impossible to attend. Under the threat of exposure, even the most insistent of relatives will excuse you from the event immediately and without hesitation. (Shhh…I won’t tell…)
Go Late for Dessert. Just can’t resist Grandma’s pumpkin pie? Eat a light meal at home and go for dessert and enjoy the comatose company of your family following the meal. They will all be too stupefied with excessive calories to argue, or question you very much about your lateness. Blame the family dog, your husband’s relatives…come on, you’ve got this excuse covered!
Create a Caloric Plan of Attack. Find out the menu beforehand and decide which foods you can’t live without and which are a nutritional waste of time. Take only 2 bites of the most calorically dense foods (you’ll be so full afterwards anyway you won’t miss the gobs of food), eat lightly and save a special corner of your tummy for an entire slice of pie.
Eat Large. Along with that idea, limit your carbs and focus on the protein and vegetables. Proteins and water based foods have an appetite dulling effect and can help you manage your food intake. You can also dull your appetite by eating a snack before arriving so you aren’t too hungry. Filling yourself with a fiber supplement or other appetite suppressant like a cup of black coffee or green tea also works. Even a trick like smelling vanilla for an extended period has been scientifically shown to significantly reduce appetite. Tuck a cottonball with a few drops of vanilla essential oil or extract into your collar area. (I swear I don’t make this stuff up) No one will notice your new vanilla cologne with all the cooking and baking going on in the house.
Relax and Enjoy. Do consider, though, that this is one meal. Look at it this way…Each day you will eat 3 meals and, probably, 2 snacks. Multiply that by 365 days and in 1 year the impact of this meal is practically negligible. It’s the choices you make day after day that count. One indulgent meal will not impact your health, assuming you avoid specific foods that cause allergic or intolerant reactions. So, go ahead, have the pie. Just get back into your exercise and food routines the next day. Don’t let this one indulgence derail your progress. If you give yourself permission to indulge there is no force behind the “cheat day. “ Eat, enjoy, and get back to your usual healthy food patterns and hot the gym.
You’ll probably be shopping it all off tomorrow anyway, right?
Happy Holidays!