Written by: Denise Stegall, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Holiday! Celebrate! Are you looking forward to the upcoming holidays? Well, lucky you. They started on October 31st! Yes, on Halloween.
As a Health and Lifestyle Coach, I see Halloween as a full-fledged holiday, not just for children. Adults celebrate in some way or another, too. Whether you don a costume, funky hat, or not, you indulge with candy, food, and drink.
My educated guess is that you have purchased a super-sized bag (s) of candy "for the trick or treaters" that you expect to show up at your door. Halloween is celebrated very differently since we were kids when going door to door dressed as pirates or princesses was the norm. The mall is now the place to take the little ones for a safe Halloween.
Why do we hoard all of this Halloween candy? For one, it's cheap to buy in bulk. However, in my experience as a coach, I believe that it's related to what I now know as Food FOMO. I can't take credit for the term introduced to me a few years ago by Living Healthy List Expert Lauren Yellin Weinberg, MS, NBC-HWC from Lasting Change Wellness. During an interview, we discussed how to avoid food FOMO in general, which even the most disciplined of us struggle with from time to time.
Somehow, we discount Halloween for its importance in our Holiday Celebrations. Celebrations that all include food! The extra bars of chocolates and candy leftover from the lack of Trick or Treaters make for quick pick-me-ups during marathon cookie or pie baking that comes with the Holidays.
We are misguided or consciously avoiding the fact that Holiday Food FOMO has already begun. Not at the end of November at Thanksgiving but on November 1st when we realize how much leftover goodies we have in our pantries.
If you attended an adult Halloween party, you've probably already struggled with Food FOMO by enjoying a glass or two of smoking punch, monster eye appetizers, or dead-ful desserts. I know you just wanted one, but they all looked so good, and you tried them all.
The same thing happens with those fun-sized chocolate bars that you bought in bulk. Why? Because you will pick out a few of your favorites, eat more than one since they are so tiny. Before you know it, you've eaten the equivalent of a full-sized candy bar. I'm guilty of it myself.
Can we agree that the Holidays begin with All Hallows Eve? Great! Now let's make a plan to avoid Food FOMO for the rest of the Holiday Season.
Step 1:
Donate all of the extra candy you have leftover. Please bring it to your local Boys and Girls Clubs (the candy was intended for the kids anyway); any of the Homes that Heal like Gift of Life Transplant House in MN, Ronald McDonald House, or Hope Lodge. They will gladly accept your donations.
With the candy out of the house, you can stay on track with your healthy habits. I'm not saying that a piece of candy here and there doesn't have a place in your life, but why keep the temptation in your pantry when you can share with others?
Thanksgiving and Hannukah fall on the same week this year, so many people are getting a double whammy regarding Food FOMO. So, this next step is essential.
Step 2: Plan NOW!
Why do we always indulge on Thanksgiving? It is just one meal, yet most of us put enough food on our plates to equate to 2 and even three meals. And I'm not even adding in dessert! No wonder why we feel full, bloated, and sleepy afterward. Don't blame the tryptophan in the turkey because you know very well that a lot more on your plate causes you to feel this way. Butter, cream, potatoes, mac and cheese, potatoes, creamy mushroom soup, and French-fried onions may be the culprits. Did I mention stuffing? Hello, carbs. Not that carbs are bad, but all in one sitting is not a good plan.
I'll admit this all sounds so delicious that my mouth is watering just thinking about it. So, let's get back to the plan.
Are you the host this year? Great! Then you have control over what gets served. Make it simple. Good food made with simple ingredients tastes the best. Perhaps replace a few calories heavy dishes with lighter ones. I bet your family won't even notice. You can find thousands of healthier holiday favs online. My trick is to pick the one that looks the most delicious and go with that one.
If you are not hosting, you can always bring a de-lite-ful dish that you will enjoy and have no guilt eating. Aside from that here’s the plan. Before you fill your plate, scan the table, whether family style or buffet and look at everything you could put on your plate. Bypass the typical dishes that you might have on any given weeknight. You'll have more room on your plate and save calories, so pick something else. Honestly, you're not missing out if you forgo the green bean dish. As a plant-forward cook, it pains me to see beautiful tender green beans drowning in glop, even if it is grandma's recipe.
Step 3:
Take small portions of everything you choose. You can always go back for seconds if you are still hungry after you've finished. Besides, you leave some extra food for leftovers. If you do go back for seconds, protein is your best option, even adding a little extra gravy.
Weight gain during the holidays equates to the amount you eat versus what you burn off. Food FOMO is an issue as most of us eat more than usual and work out less than we should. We get busy preparing for the holidays, cooking, baking, and shopping so unless it’s a priority exercise is the first thing that gets scratched from your to-do list.
We are all subject to Food FOMO during the holidays, and the "trick" to managing it is simple. It does take a little thought and planning. Follow these recommendations, and you'll enjoy the holidays without stress, overwhelm, or Food FOMO.
Plan ahead
Think before you drink.
Take in the atmosphere.
Celebrate family and friends.
Step back and breathe.
The holidays give you the opportunity to express gratitude for the abundance in your life, to appreciate your good health, to honor the relationships you have with family and friends. To acknowledge the opportunities that have come your way and even to resolve to do better next year. Take it all in and make memories that last a lifetime. That is the real reason we celebrate.
Denise Stegall, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Denise Stegall is the CEO and curator of Living Healthy List.com. As an inspirational thought leader, she is determined to provide Living Healthy List readers with honest, reliable, research-backed information in health, wellness, personal development, and fun that can be implemented in real life. Denise began her career with a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, business management with a focus on nutrition. She’s condensed 25 years of experience and study in nutrition, cooking, exercise, and coaching to help women find a happy, healthy, lifestyle that works for them. Her experience in cooking and nutrition delivers a unique perspective on what works (and doesn’t work) for most people. Her philosophy revolves around three fundamentals: Eat Real Food, Make Good Decisions, and Be Accountable.
