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Ready for the holidays? Balancing decadent with wholesome

Posted by: Sonja Overhiser
Posted: November 25, 2014
Categories: Uncategorized

When I first started eating healthy foods, the holidays were like a cruel joke. Snickerdoodles, macaroons, peppermint fudge, and holiday M&M’s invaded my office, endless parties, and gift boxes from friends. Why must we celebrate the season by compromising each other’s health?, I would ask myself, not sure how to balance my newfound freedom in embracing nutritious foods without being seen as an out-of-touch health freak.

Natural hot chocolate by A Couple of Cooks, Indianapolis

Over the years, I’ve found that you can’t just go through the holidays with your head in the sand. The season is a time to celebrate, spend time with loved ones, and toast to a new year. It’s seen as standoffish and socially awkward not to partake in the sugar-fest with the rest of the crowd — and feels just as isolating.

At the same time, I recently spent a week voluntarily not consuming sugar, which revealed to me the power of sugar and its addicting effect on the body. Consuming more holiday sweets leads to, wait for it, a desire to consume more sugary sweets. So as in everything, balance is key when it comes to the holidays.

A few practical tips to surviving the holiday season without loosening your belt
Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Stuffing by A Couple of Cooks, Indianapolis Massaged-Kale-Salad by A Couple of Cooks, Indianapolis Moroccan-Chickpea-and-Sweet-Potato-Stew by A Couple of Cooks, Indianapolis
  1. Balance party food with light and healthy meals. Offset the rich party food with fresh, delicious meals as a daily practice. Keeping this routine will help your body stay centered, instead of letting the holiday treats creep into your daily routine. Some wintery meal ideas: Italian White Bean Soup, Shaved Brussels Sprout and Sweet Potato Salad, Moroccan Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew, and Vegetarian Chili.
  2. Look for flavorful and whole-food focused holiday feast foods. Holiday meals can actually be chock full of nutrients and wholesome goodness. Break up the norm with some of these festive ideas featuring seasonal whole foods: Roasted Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pistachio Stuffing, Garlic and Chive Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pecorino and Pecans, Massaged Kale Salad with Apples and Pomegranate, Pomegranate Cider Spritzer, and Poached Pears with Pecan Granola.
  3. Take smaller portions of rich sweets. Don’t be afraid to split a piece of pie, or take just one or two small cookies. Remind yourself to indulge in moderation — and try to stand out of sight line of that tempting cookie plate if possible!
  4. Try real food versions of holiday favorites. Instead of hot chocolate in a package, make your own all natural hot chocolate with honey or maple syrup. Or try making chocolate bark with pistachios and cranberries for an all natural red and green twist. They’re still treats, but without the preservatives and synthetic colors and flavorings.

Whatever your holiday season holds, make sure to give yourself grace; your eating might not be perfect, but it’s no reason to give up entirely! Take small steps toward healthy, whole living while balancing holiday indulgence — your body will thank you.

Dark chocolate_cranberry_pistachio_clusters by A Couple of Cooks, Indianapolis

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