The holidays bring so much joy at this time of year! But, for those who struggle with a poor relationship with their food and bodies can experience some serious stress during this season.
As we enter the holidays, I wanted to share some reminders that may help you through difficult moments. We can be a change by refraining from commenting on others’ bodies and food choices. Along with that, you deserve to be non-judgmental towards yourself. Below are the Intuitive Eater’s Bill of Rights, written by Evelyn Tribole (creator of Intuitive Eating):
1. You have the right to savor your meal, without cajoling or judgment, and without discussion of calories eaten or the amount of exercise needed to burn off said calories.
2. You have the right to enjoy second servings without apology.
3. You have the right to honor your fullness, even if that means saying “no thank you” to dessert or a second helping of food.
4. It is not your responsibility to make someone happy by overeating, even if it took hours to prepare a specialty holiday dish.
5. You have the right to say, “No thank you,” without explanation, when offered more food.
6. You have the right to stick to your original answer of “no”, even if you are asked multiple times. Just calmly and politely repeat “No, thank you, really.”
7. You have the right to eat pumpkin pie for breakfast.
You know your body better than anyone else! Enjoy and savor the foods you love, give yourself grace, and remind yourself that it is okay if you ate more than usual.
“I overate on Thanksgiving, now what do I do?!”
If you eat a little extra than planned, it truly is okay. Food serves a much bigger purpose than just physical. It is okay to eat your favorite holiday foods. Maybe it is a recipe from a family member that you only get once a year. Maybe it is a food that brings back fond memories from past holidays. Food brings us together, enjoy it in the moment.
This is a question we hear often throughout the holidays from clients. The day after Thanksgiving, eat how you normally would. Be sure to drink lots of water, as the foods from the day before can leave you feeling dehydrated. Do not try to compensate by eating less or working out more. Just do your routine as normal, and you’ll be hitting those goals as you always do!
Now go have a great holiday season!
