{HMW} Three questions to ask before the holiday meal chaos begins
|
Dear Reader, It's Christmas week, and you're likely facing multiple holiday meals, special treats, family gatherings, and foods that only appear once a year. The pressure to eat everything, enjoy everything, and not "waste" special holiday foods can completely override your body's signals. Instead of complex rules, focus on three simple principles that support both enjoyment and body awareness. Principle 1: Permission Without Obligation: Give yourself full permission to eat holiday foods you genuinely want, but release the obligation to eat everything available. You can skip the dishes that don't actually appeal to you, even if they're "traditional" or someone made them specially. Permission means choiceβincluding the choice to say no. Principle 2: Pleasure Requires Presence: Holiday foods deserve your full attention to be truly enjoyed. Eating your favorite pie while distracted by conversation or standing in the kitchen means missing the experience you're seeking. When you choose to eat something special, sit down, slow down, and actually taste it. Three fully conscious bites often provide more satisfaction than a whole piece eaten mindlessly. Principle 3: Honor Your Future Self: Before eating, briefly imagine how you'll feel in two hours. Will this choice leave you energized and satisfied, or uncomfortable and regretful? This is about making decisions that serve both present enjoyment and future wellbeing. Sometimes you'll choose the temporary pleasure despite knowing you'll feel overfull later, and that's okay when it's conscious. The key is awareness, not perfection. These principles work together to create space for genuine enjoyment without the physical and emotional cost of complete abandon. β Have it: Interesting article alert: How to Stop Taking Things Personallyβ βPeanut Butter Crunch Bocce Ball - omg these are so good. β Made it: β5-Senses Sundayβ βThe final 5-Senses Sunday of 2025 is here, and it's a good one. We're talking about the weirdly satisfying world of picking and peeling (are you a popper?), scratch-and-sniff whiskey books that look like kids' board books, and 5,000+ free documentaries you didn't know existed. Oh, and I'm declaring 2026 the year of GOβno more waiting on creative blocks or perfect timing. What's your word for the new year? Want it: βBrass Monkey's Poorly Explained Movies - 80s edition game - this looks so fun! I really want to try this vegan protein powder - it has 20 grams of plant-based protein per serving! Ingredient Spotlight: Thyme Those tiny leaves pack a lot of personality. Thyme has this earthy, slightly minty thing going on with a hint of lemon that makes it weirdly versatile. It works in everything from roasted vegetables to grain bowls to soups where you need a little more depth. Fresh thyme is great, but honestly, dried thyme is one of those herbs that doesn't lose much in translation, so don't stress if fresh isn't happening. It contains compounds that have been used traditionally for respiratory support (hello, cold season), and it's got some antioxidants and antimicrobial properties. But really, the reason to use it is because it makes food taste good without overpowering everything else. Try it with mushrooms, potatoes, beans, or tossed with olive oil on roasted carrots. A little goes a long wayβstart with a small pinch and see where it takes you. β28 recipes you can make with fresh thymeβ Announcements & Upcoming: βWhole Body Health Summit - tickets are now available! What is it? Daily 10-15-min podcast sessions on burnout, balance, and mind-body healing. Inside the Whole Body Health Summit, Iβll be sharing about the tricky things that might be making you tired and how to turn your energy capacity around. This free audio event brings together 15 speakers offering daily podcasts on everything from burnout and emotional balance to gut health, nutrition, self-care, and nervous system support. We start on Wednesday, January 7, and new podcasts drop each day through January 11. Just make sure to register before we begin.
β Extra Bytes: What I'm Reading: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood What I'm Watching: Old Gossip Girl episodesβ What I'm Listening to: This website filled to the brim with ambient soundsβ What I'm Eating: Butternut Dumplings toasted hazelnuts, sesame "butter," apple-arugula saladβ β Warmly, Jenny |