Holiday Eating and Feelings

The top three hits to come up after typing in “holiday eating” on Google are HOLIDAY EATING FACTS, HOLIDAY EATING TIPS and HOLIDAY EATING STRATEGIES. Clearly, people have questions about how to “do” holiday eating. For some, it can bring up a variety of different emotions including excitement, comfort, frustration and guilt, among others. One minute, we’re anxiously excited about the freshly baked pumpkin pie that just came out of the oven. Moments later, comments of “I shouldn’t” or “this is so bad for me” or“next week, I’ll be good” are numerous around the Thanksgiving table. These judgments take away from theenjoyment of the holiday meal and distract from conversationsthat may be more meaningful.

Food is nourishment to our bodies, and is something we get toenjoy. If you are fortunate to have taste buds, you are one that gets to embrace the many different flavors and aromas that food has to offer. And come time for the holidays, these realities don’t change. In addition to nourishment and enjoyment, we have the opportunity to share food with others and create or maintain traditions that provide meaning and joy to our lives. Without ourdeeper values being met, the delicious holiday foods would fuel us physically but leave us otherwise dissatisfied.

Thus, these traditions – some which may connect to our deeper values -- do not end in the kitchen. They infiltrate our lives -unbeknownst to us at times - in unique ways around the holidays. Whether it’s playing a rousing game of cards after aThanksgiving meal, taking an afternoon stroll to the park, sleeping under a fir tree on Christmas Eve, or sharing holidaymeals with family and friends. Traditions are a way to join together in something meaningful and share it with others. For many, food is a sure foundation to these traditions. Whether it’s your cousin’s sweet potatoes, your aunt’s famous apple pie or a good ol’ side of cranberry sauce, food is nourishment to our bodies and may help us connect to the deeper joys of life: connection with people, laughter, sharing, giving, or whateverother value that is dear to you.

So my advice for Holiday Eating: Enjoy the delicious holiday meals this year. Embrace your traditions, memories and comingexperiences to be had. And do not neglect that which is most valuable to you this time of year.

 

Rachel Myhre, MS, RD, CD