Many of us justify eating less than optimal foods or eating beyond what is comfortable because it is a special occasion. This could include everything from having a funnel cake at the country fair to eating a huge portion of Grandma’s special pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a special family recipe or having an unhealthy treat occasionally but when these occasions are happening constantly (Happy Hour with Friends, Book Club! Neighborhood Dinner! Birthdays!) these treats are no longer for a special occasion and we are constantly justifying our unhealthy choices. Eating like this all the time has health consequences.
I used to struggle with the six weeks of holiday eating that starts when the kids bring home large bags of Halloween candy, up until to December 31st, when we all promise to ourselves to eat better in the new year. This period is often filled with temptation with Christmas goodies everywhere, holiday parties, and travel.
However, since learning and practicing #Moderation365 style of eating, created by Jill Coleman, the holidays no longer bring me fear and dread. Yes, I will likely have a few more indulgences during this time but I no longer wake up on January 1st with weight gain, guilt, and shame, vowing to do better next year.
One of the main tenets and principles of #Moderation365 is the abundance mindset. This mindset, opposite of the scarcity mindset is the idea that most any food is available to us at anytime. There is no reason we need to eat all of a particular type of food in one sitting since we could likely eat that exact same food at the next meal, the next day, the next week. If you really LOVE your grandma’s pumpkin pie, you could make that pie anytime of the year. It does not have to be reserved for Thanksgiving. If you really adore funnel cakes, you could likely find one more than once a year. Just by understanding and focusing on the fact you could have this food at anytime, you can take back your power. Thinking of how often we could really have these food removes the urgency for us to eat it all right now.
Girl Scout Cookies are one example of food marketing that creates a scarcity mindset. Girl Scout Cookies are only technically available one time a year, so people get excited and therefore want to buy and eat all the cookies. This sense of scarcity makes the cookies feel illicit and special and therefore we justify eating the entire box in a few sittings. However, if you really tried, I guarantee you could find a Girl Scout Cookie knock off that tastes the exact same, at the grocery store any time of the year.
Practicing the abundance mindset is hard. But it does get easier with practice and can be applied to many food situations such as parties, eating out, travel etc. The upcoming holidays are a great time to practice the abundance mindset. Holiday gatherings do not have to be synonymous with overeating or stuffing ourselves. That makes the holidays even more stressful. And though you might not think about focusing on healthy habits during the holidays, this is the best time to practice. If you can hone in on good consistent exercise and healthy food habits when life is hectic, come January, these behaviors might actually feel easy. When attending a gathering, fill up on vegetables, good quality protein and whole grains but allow yourself small amounts of anything you want, giving yourself permission to enjoy those treats but know that you really can have them at any time. Remove the urgency and focus on being satisfied but not stuffed.
If you are interested in learning more about the #Moderation365 curriculum and free yourself from food rules, guilt and obsession, contact me. I am taking new clients in both December and January. It could really change your life!
