The holidays immediately bring to mind family, fun and food. Regardless of how you celebrate, food is almost always, undoubtedly, at the center of your plans. This is usually food that has taken days to prepare by family or friends. Hours of loving energy have been poured into that food for loved ones to enjoy while they share special time together. It’s food that is often steeped in family tradition; recipes often known by heart, handed down from generation to generation. This is the kind of food that feeds your soul because it carries so much more than just nutrients. It carries history, tradition and memories.

It has become popular in today’s world to add an extra ingredient to holiday food: GUILT. Guilt for eating something that you wouldn’t normally eat or for something that has too many calories or carbs. Today, I want to give you my opinion on that as a wellness professional. An otherwise healthy person has no reason to push their plate of Mom’s delicious, homemade, holiday food away. Heck, have seconds and even dessert. I know you don’t hear this advice very often, but here is the reason why I am giving it to you.

A person’s health is not dependent on the actions of one meal or even one day. A person’s health is dependent on many, many days. It’s dependent on the habits of a lifetime. In my opinion, there is room in that lifetime for a few special days filled with memory-making meals with family and friends. There is room for the experience of filling your belly and soul with the history of generations that came before you. Savor those moments and know that there is more going into your body than just food. Eat slowly and gratefully and with joy!

Rid your mind of worry, fear or self-loathing. Enjoy the day mindfully and peacefully and know that there are plenty of days ahead of you that will be perfect for green juice and salad. Delight in the experience of making memories with your family that will be passed along for generations to come. Tell stories to your kids and listen to stories being told by those who are older than you. These moments are as healthy for you as any vitamin.

Still a little worried about throwing yourself off course? Serve yourself reasonable portions and plan to take a long walk before or after dinner with a family member or friend. Plan an extra workout next week. One day will not ruin all of your efforts. It’s when we feel like we’re doing something “wrong” that we tend to overdo it because we’re “getting away with something” and “breaking the rules”. It is human nature to want more of what we “can’t” have. We are much more rational when it comes to things that we CAN have and I’m here to tell you that you CAN have your pie and eat it, too.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

xo, Mandee