It’s the question everybody is asking this time of year: What is your favorite holiday vegetable? Well don’t everyone speak up at once. Celery? Broccoli? Ahhhh, I am simply overwhelmed with magical Christmas warm fuzzies every time I think about cauliflower.
Oh, for real. Who gets excited about Christmas vegetables? Unless it’s a jalapeno stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon. Now we’re talking.
I giggle a little bit when I read magazine articles with encouragement about how to eat healthy during the holiday season. “At holiday parties,” they say, “fill your plate with raw veggies and nuts.” Spendid! Let’s party! Fill me a plate of festive Christmas cucumbers!
It’s not that I disagree with that advice. It’s a very good idea actually – to fill up on the good stuff so that you don’t over-indulge on the bad stuff. But when I think about my favorite Christmas-time foods, the relish tray isn’t at the top of my list. I eat those foods all the time, and praise God for vegetables. But at Christmas parties? Please pass the chocolate covered chocolate with a bowl full of chocolate for dipping purposes.
I kid. I mean, obviously there needs to be some cream cheese with that chocolate. And some chips. With dip. Okay then.
So what is reality, what can we do to stay healthy, and how do we maintain a good balance during this fun filled, food filled season? Here is my chocolate-covered advice:
Save the Treats for Parties
You’ll likely be at plenty of events during the next several weeks that will offer tables laden with sugar. Knowing this, avoid having lots of sugary foods in your own kitchen. Instead, focus on eating plenty of healthy foods at home – yes, I’m talking about vegetables here. Eat salads, eat good protein, blend spinach into your smoothies, eat all kinds of nourishing foods. Your body will thank you for it, and you’ll enjoy the party treats so much more.
Sugar is Made to Be Shared
But wait. What if you have goodies in your kitchen because you’re having fun making treats to share with others? Awesome, that’s part of the joy of this season! This gives you the opportunity to take a nibble or two of some of your favorite holiday treats, then package up the rest to give to others.
Make the Sugar Consumption Count
I say, if we’re going to have something sweet and a little bit naughty – for goodness sake we’d better swoon while we’re eating it. Pass over the crumbly boxed cookies, and go for the gooey, decadent, dish of amazingness. Why waste our indulgences on something that is just so-so?
Stop Eating When You’re Full
I think somehow many of us equate holiday time with over-eating. What? So we’re just planning on being gluttonous while throwing reason and self-control out the frosty window? That’s silly. Take small amounts of food, savor each bite, then when you are full, put down your plate. Christmas is more merry when you don’t have indigestion. (<– Someone should totally turn that sentence into a Christmas carol.)
Drink Lots of Water
Do I really need to elaborate on this one? We always need to be sipping on water. Even at Christmas. Just do it.
May each of us enjoy a holiday season that is healthy, balanced, moderate, delicious, and topped with a caramel truffle. I mean artichoke. No, no. I mean truffle. It is Christmas, after all.
What is one of your biggest struggles with staying healthy during Christmas? What would you add to this list as an encouragement to stay healthy and balanced during the holiday season?
Love it!
Hilarious but also sound advice. I would much rather bake, take a bite, and give it away because I always feel soooo bad after I over eat sweets. Another tip: I also like to eat lots of soups during the holidays to balance the sweets. Broth based soup is healthy, quick (especially in the crockpot) and makes a lot!
I heartily agree with this post! 100%! indulge responsibly at parties and definitely only eat it if it’s worth it! I would add to walk, walk, walk (exercise more in general) during December; you will burn that sugar off faster and add to the balance of food and fun :-)
I second the walking and exercise! I always get a bit of winter depression and when I am blue my body craves sweets, carbs, chocolate, etc. Exercise and cod liver oil do wonders! Then I can enjoy eating those treats just to enjoy them, not to make myself feel better!
This is my first holiday season being sugar and grain free, so I am a little anxious about the next few weeks, especially when we’ll be traveling. So far, it has been manageable. I make sure that I eat before we go places that may not have food that I will be able to eat. Anyone who avoids grains and sugar can’t over-indulge too much without having painful consequences ( I learned that lesson the hard way!) Your peanut butter and honey fudge was the perfect treat to make and share with friends, and I did have one (or 3) pieces!:)
* When I feel the urge to bake Christmas cookies, I bake only half the dough and freeze the other half for a different day or for last minute visits.
* Just eat the fresh treats now and put any treats that are pre-packaged or shelf stable, like brand name candy, in the cupboard or freezer for after the holidays. The more open packages and tupperwares you have, the more pressure there is to eat it all up now.
* I always remember that I don’t have to do it all now. There is nothing wrong with making gingerbread cookies in July. And with the internet, you can order all those nostalgic candies anytime of year if you get a craving.
Ok, couldn’t help it… ahem, to the tune of “Oh Christmas Tree”:
“Christmas is… More merry when… You don’t have indigestion.
It sounds a little silly, but… it is a great suggestion!
Who wants to burp and burn all night?!
Take small amounts, savor each bite…
Oh, Christmas is… More merry when… You don’t have indigestion!”
There ya go! LOL!!!
Loved your article and your hilarious way of reminding us to be more mindful of how we treat our bodies this Christmas season. :-)
Love it! Thank you, Amber.
How cute is this song? So cute I have already sang it three times.
If I memorize it, perhaps I will heed the message. :~D
You are kidding me! I LOVE this!!! Amber, you’re awesome – thank you for making my day!!! (love the burp and burn part…brilliant!)
You rock. I can see this becoming the new Christmas classic!
Well, I know it is unconventional and all that, but I really DO prefer veggies to chocolate, sweets, chips et.. I have not had and processed food in over 25 yrs.. no candy, chocolate, chips, gum, soda, cake, cookies.,. I really, really like veggies !
Great post and great advise! :) I hope you’ll share it with our special Christmas Edition of Wildcrafting Wednesday! :)
Great post!
I truly love veggies & feel frustrated that they r so lacking at parties.
I tend to bring veggies & hummus so I know there will be something
There to balance things out!! That said, I also love sweets – being vegan
I tend to bring my own so I know it’s made w healthier ingredients
& I can have some sweets ( & if there r other vegan foods it is a bonus!)
I love to bake – If I make a treat for home I often have some the day I make it
Then either put in my kids lunches ( as teen boyz their appetites r growing
– you can relate I know- so I don”t mind them having a small homemade sweet
In their lunch nowadays). I also freeze some for other days when we need
A quick treat
More than I meant to say! Thanks for a great post & the song was terrific!
I love all the sweet holiday goodies, but I also have some favorite non-sweet treats. I love clementines and pomegranates, and cracking nuts that are still in their shells is one of my favorite holiday memories from growing up. A cheeseball(do you have a recipe for a healthy one?) and some crackers are always fun, and we also love olives and tiny dill pickles :) I think the key is balance, and I know you already know this, but using whole grain flour, healthy fats(butter!), and unrefined sugar will help keep blood sugar stable, so you don’t feel so terrible after overindulging :)
Oh Laura, you hurt my feelings! Only chocolate?!!! Caramel must, must, must be the forth or fifth or first ingredient!! Great information your sharing today 8->.
Hi Laura,
Speaking of chocolate, and how you enjoy chocolate as much as I do, I thought I’d tell you about a new recipe I made today. Morning Cocoa Rolls. I found them on a website called Chickens in the Road and they are amazing! I don’t mean this to be disrespectful Laura, so I hope you don’t mind, I just remember you tried that chocolate peanut butter,and that chocolate peanut butter pie and I thought you’d like to try this one. You can’t go wrong with chocolate sweet bread.
http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/morning-cocoa-rolls/
One favorite veggie dish always on our table at Christmas is a big cornbread casserole. Before baking, I cut up red bell pepper to make a nice big ponsietta and green bell pepper to form leaves on each side. Mainly we love this dish, but with the colorful flower baked on top, its especially cheery and colorful.
Just like the grocery store, never show up at a party hungry! Better to eat a little something that will stick with you at home (1/2 PB sandwich, a few crackers and cheese) than be famished at the party and overindulge on treats.