Holiday Indulgement- How not to Regret Your Food Choices

It is that time of the year when traditional holiday temptations kick-off. Almost every one of us is attending parties and celebrating their vacation with loved ones and colleagues. So it is normal to eat and drink excess and spend too much money. Holidays unfailingly seem to revolve around indulgence– indulgence in drink, food and shopping. These lavish behaviours tend to take a toll on your health, well-being and your wallet.

This year Indulge yourself mindfully in something less extravagant and create more fulfilling connections. Practising mindfulness is a very important component of successful leadership. The choices you make influence the bigger part of your life. That means how you do one thing is how you do it all.

Here are some tips on how to indulge sensibly!

• Less deprivation, more moderation

If you constantly deprive yourself of desired treat foods, you are only going to crave them more! If you feel like eating a piece of chocolate cake, go ahead, eat it and SAVOUR IT! But do it heedfully and eat it slowly, not gulp it. As long as you aren’t craving cake every day of the week, believe it or not, it can be included in your healthy diet.

• Listen to your body!

Learn how to interpret your body’s appetite sensations, that way, you will be able to eat more intuitively. Your mind should know when you should start eating, which foods can truly satisfy your body needs and when you should control your eating.

Try to avoid distractions while eating like TV or work, as you may not realise how much you have eaten and might ignore fullness signals and hunger as well. Eating regular meals, every 2 to 4 hours, can help you become more aware of these signals and leaves little room in your diet for those calorie-dense additions.

• Accept taste changes!

Once you accept your taste buds, you will probably notice that your body naturally craves for a variety of food, including fruits and vegetables. That way, you won’t feel the urge to binge in less healthy foods.

• Prepare a Plan and Prosper!

Don’t struggle with your food choices at any event or social gathering, try to incorporate nutrition first which is packed with rich fibre like veggie sticks and low-fat dip, and eat only a small amount of your favourite treat.

• Drop the guilt altogether!

Whilst some foods layout less nutrition than others, food is neither ‘bad’ nor ‘good’ and being able to completely savour food for all of its qualities – smell, taste, appearance, as well as its nutrition content, is key in having a positive relationship with your body and food.

Over to you:
Holidays don’t always have to be a series of indulgences that we may later recover from, and in some cases regret. Mindfully indulging in connection—with people, food, drinks, experience and most importantly ourselves can bring greater joy and wonderment to us. Let us all dive into the New Year with focus, purpose and fresh energy.