Allowing yourself to enjoy all your favourite indulgent goodies, while refraining from overdoing it, is about tuning into what you truly desire, and ignoring everything else. That might sound easy, but it's a mindset that can take some cultivating. Luckily Claire Turnbull has tips.
The festive season is officially here, and with it often comes a full calendar, social gatherings, lots of food and drink on offer, and the usual mix of joy, chaos, and exhaustion.
I’m the first to admit I enjoy a few extra drinks at this time of year. And I’ll absolutely be munching on my mum’s legendary Christmas cake, as well as some other tasty treats when I’m back in the UK – especially chocolate Hobnobs (delicious British oaty biscuits) with a cup of tea.
The question is: how can we enjoy the best parts of the festive season without the downsides – feeling hungover half the time, stuffed and uncomfortable after parties, or struggling to do up our shorts come February?
It isn’t about depriving ourselves of the things we genuinely enjoy or planning some kind of health cleanse. It’s about being a little more mindful with the choices we make and having a few tricks up our sleeves so we can feel good and still have fun.
Is it 10 out of 10?
This is a question I ask myself all year round, but I find it especially helpful right now. When it comes to food and drinks, I’m having purely for enjoyment – mince pies, cake, ice cream and so on – I pause and ask: is this going to be a 10 out of 10 (or at least a 9 out of 10) for me?
Meaning, is it something I’m really going to really enjoy and feel good about afterwards? Or will it be one of those things that looks tempting, but doesn’t taste that great and leaves me feeling a bit yuck and wishing I hadn’t bothered?
It takes practice to build this level of awareness, but it’s incredibly helpful. You can absolutely be healthy while still having cake and cookies! But if you choose the best ones and say “no thanks” to the rest, you’ll naturally end up having far less overall.
Have a pre-event game plan
If I arrive somewhere hungry and parched, I can easily smash a bowl of chips and half a bottle of wine, despite everything I know about nutrition. Working in health doesn’t make you immune to salty cravings after a couple of drinks!
So, most of the time, I try to set myself up differently. I want to arrive and slowly drink something I enjoy as well as be able to make mindful choices about food. That might still include some chips… just not a whole bowl.
I always have some water before I head out, so my first alcoholic drink is something I’m actually tasting and enjoying, not using to quench thirst. If it's a day when I'm choosing to drink, I’ll always take a mix of low- and no-alcohol drinks as well as alcoholic ones and alternate between them. With so many good non-alcoholic drinks on the market these days though, it's becoming easier than ever to enjoy social occasions without feeling like you're missing out without any alcohol at all.
I also avoid arriving super hungry as that never ends well. A smoothie, some fruit/yoghurt/nuts, or chopped veg beforehand can make a world of difference and stops extreme hunger from taking over.
I do this for my boys before they go out to parties and celebrations too, otherwise they're absolutely the first ones to scoff all the snacks and inhale all the cheese on the platter before anyone else gets a chance.
If I'm asked to bring a plate, I will always be the one to bring a salad or fruit/veg to balance everything else that's on offer.
Where do you stand?
So many of our food and drink choices happen on autopilot. Add social occasions, where food is everywhere, and your glass gets refilled without asking, and it’s easy to eat and drink far more than you intended.
On the food front, one simple strategy is to think about where you stand or sit. If possible, avoid hovering beside the snacks, where mindless grazing is almost guaranteed.
When it comes to drinks, finishing one before being topped up helps you keep track, so a polite “no thanks” may be needed if there’s a very enthusiastic friend or waiter refilling glasses.
Move your feet
A lot of festive catchups completely revolve around food and drink, but they don’t have to. When I organise time with friends, I often include a walk or something active because the conversation and laughter flows brilliantly and, even if you end up having lunch or a BBQ afterwards, you generally feel less like heavy drinking once movement has been in the mix.
Don’t punish yourself
I often meet people who feel they’ve massively overeaten one day and respond by skipping meals the next. This isn’t helpful. You’re far more likely to end up making poor choices later, especially if you’re hungover.
Instead, focus on a nourishment day. Topping up on the things you likely had very little of the day before: veggies, protein, and plenty of fluid. A veggie omelette, a big salad with protein, or a smoothie with fruit and veg are all much kinder on your body than trying to starve yourself to make up for overdoing it.
I hope this helps you support your wellbeing over the festive season. Take care of yourself.
Claire Turnbull has a BSc (Hons) in Dietetics, is a New Zealand Registered Nutritionist, author, and speaker. If you have a question or topic you'd like Claire to write about, you can contact her here.
SHARE ME