I can not get over how fast November and December are going! We have already had our share of what ever crud has been going around, and I can't believe I'm going to say this, but we are all wishing for a little snow for Christmas!
I think it's funny how emotionally tied to the snow that some of us are, like it just doesn't seem like Christmas without it!
Have you ever stopped to think about how emotionally tied to our traditions we are? And if you really think about it, how many of those traditions are revolving around food?
I totally get it, food and family seem to go hand in hand for most generations. It's the way a lot of us show love...
we bake...
and cook the huge meal...
everyone overeats...
plays games...
feels connected...
It is so much engrained in us that if we removed one piece of that puzzle, it just might not feel like we even had the holiday?!?
And you know what? Back in the day when we all worked outside all day, and life was simple, and we ate whole, nutritious, dense foods 95% of the time, those traditions worked. No one left feeling gross because it was a one time event. Now I would have to guess that most of us aren't living like "back in the day" and I don't think I'm alone in saying most holidays I already feel gross before I even get to the party;) (thank goodness for consistent efforts this year and a change in tradition in this case!!)
But the point here is that we CAN change just a bit here and there and see dramatic differences in how we show up and show love!
Wouldn't it be nice to cook foods that make people feel amazing?
Wouldn't it feel good to feel good enough to want to go to the party?
Wouldn't it feel good to know that you eat amazing 95% of the time and this one day of indulgent food isn't going to even trip you up a little bit?
You've got a few choices on this one, or you can incorporate both of these strategies below, but remember, YOU are living your life and no one gets to decide how you EMOTIONALLY show up for your holidays!
So here's what I've got for ya...
Start eating real food, real FUEL 95% of the time, so that you feel so good, you will either indulge a little and move on with your life still feeling amazing, or feel so good, that you feel more self love and indulgence by just walking away from all that baggage of poor food choices! You will not be choosing foods just because you are emotionally tied to them anymore.
OR you can still cook the traditional food and just make a few changes so that if you indulge a little extra, you will still feel good about the foods you are eating! AND you are showing yourself (and your family) that inner love because you truly care about YOU and what's going into your body!!
Make the choices that serve you and your family in ALLLLLLLLL the ways, because you CAN'T and shouldn't want to take the emotional connection away from your gatherings, we aren't toy soldiers, food IS more to us at this time of year. Stop trying to fight it and embrace the unique traditions (and family members;)) you get to be close to this season. Cruise though the holidays with more peace and joy for yourself... learn to love the feeling you get knowing that when you fill up your cup, you automatically fill up every one else around you:)
Here is one recipe that we have changed to make us feel better, rather than cutting it out completely!
Breakfast Casserole (p.s. I don't measure...more of a dump and go kind of cook so you do you, add and take away what you want!)
Shredded hashbrowns and chopped cabbage -equal parts
Peppers, onions, and mushrooms- run through the food processor so that the picky eaters don't have to look at what's in the casserole, haha
browned sausage, beef, or turkey
Gluten free cream of chicken soup
real butter
sea salt, and pepper
Nutritional yeast
and of coarse we will be topping with some cheddar cheese
Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes
You can see it's not so healthy that everyone won't love it, but it's also loaded with veggies! When I want to make this even healthier for make ahead week day breakfasts, I leave out the cream of chicken soup, and add extra beef. The little bit of butter and cheese that comes along with all those veggies and proteins are what I consider balance:)
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