Not to start on a negative note, but I cringe when people describe the holiday season as a time of “survival.” Specifically, it’s the battle of the bulge I am talking about. There are copious amounts of articles out there with “Tips to Survive Holiday Parties,” “How to not Derail your Diet During the Holidays,” and so on. The focus on food is a negative one, which is a shame because this should be a time of gathering and appreciating the season’s comfy offerings.
New Years Day marks the dawn of the post-party diet. Indulgence requires punishment. To manage the guilt, resolutions pollute Facebook news feeds, creating the “we are all in this together” mentality. Really, though, the world doesn’t care about your righteous path to self-improvement. The world doesn’t care when you fall off the wagon, either.
This may seem like a rant but it isn’t. I want to make the point that we have a jacked up relationship with our food, especially during the holidays. Instead of thinking up battle-ground rules for the buffet, we should allow ourselves to appreciate the food and recognize how lucky we are to share it with those around us. No food in and of itself is inherently “bad.” Our impression that certain foods may be bad. The aftermath of eating a bit too much may be bad. But the FOOD isn’t. Philosophical, eh?
Now what? Should we just abandon all mindfulness and nosh with reckless abandonment? At times, yes!, but in general, no. Mindful eating doesn’t mean deprivation and obsessive analyzing. When fall and winter celebrations loom, we shouldn’t need to “prepare” ourselves for the oncoming onslaught of gastronomic indulgence. Rather, we should look forward to our time with others, the changing seasons, the reasons for gathering, and the food, all of which nourish the body and soul.
Instead of forbidding certain foods and strictly limiting yourselves in order to stay within your caloric goals, take that energy and focus it towards the actual sensation of eating the tasty food. Seriously savor each and every bite. Sloooooow dowwwn. In doing so, you will be enhancing your experience instead of mindlessly stuffing your face with tins of butter cookies. Appreciate that cookie for the time it took someone to make it. Enjoy it.
Sometimes, we binge because we just can’t-get-no-satisfaction. When you take the time to really taste your food, you will find that satisfaction. Better yet, you can eat whatever you want. Take the stress out of eating, especially during the holidays. No need to work on your dining table defense strategy.
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Renee, this is beautifully written piece!
Our warped relationship with food is a topic I find deeply interesting. In many ways I often wonder whether food blogs/food porn have their role to play in this too. Does this desire to go overboard at this time of the year link to our preparation for what would have in the past been a period of starvation, or at least, lack of abundance? Or is it just that our food is so engineered that we can’t stop ourselves. My friend believes it stems from when society moved to bottle feeds and baby food where we take control on a child’s feeding, rather than allowing the child to develop their own sense of full/empty. Fascinating stuff.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this intriguing subject.
K
Thank you, Kimberly! I wonder too about impact of food blogs on the relationship with food. My goal with SB is to share yummy and healthy recipes, share nutrition information, and most importantly, empower people to mindfully enjoy the dining experience again. I’m currently earning my Masters in Nutrition and I want to use my formal education to inspire others, rather than just tell them what to eat.
In developed countries, we now have a constant supply of food so the natural drive to pack in the hearty, starchy foods in the winter, in preparation for lack-there-of, is no longer needed. However, it just might be so ingrained that its a natural instinct, so to speak.
Your friend’s belief is fantastic! In my studies of infant and childhood nutrition, I learned about the natural ability to feel hunger and satiation. By taking control as parents, we are almost pre-programming. Children often go through a stage where they eat very little or only eat one or two types of food. This sends parents into a panic when in reality, it is a natural cycle. The kid will be fine! They are listening to their bodies, so let them.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
Renee