Food Sensitivities and the Holidays: The Contingency Plan You Need

Caveat: Only for the serious

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Important Information: This newsletter isn’t for those who have a history of, or currently have anorexia, bulimia or any kind of issue where you tend to starve yourself or obsess over food in an unhealthy way. If you restrict yourself to less than 1000 calories per day (which is less calories than any healthy adult needs), this is not for you. If you are currently in treatment for any kind for food-related issue, the suggestions below are not for you. Many of the word-pictures in this newsletter are written to get across a point and because I like to use my brand of humour in my writing. ——————————————————————————–

I decided to turn my weight loss post/newsletter into a post about minimizing food sensitivity exposure over the holidays. If you’ve read both, you’ll notice lots of similarities.

This is a straight-to-the-point newsletter and is for people who are serious about minimizing their exposure to their food sensitivities and intolerances over the holidays.

Some people have very mild food reactions and others have more pronounced reactions that really interfere with their quality of life.

If you are determined to minimize your exposure and keep feeling good all through the holiday season, then read on.

Still with me? Great! Read this today. Then print it off and read it a few times per week throughout December. Look out for your fellow food-sensitive person and pass it along.

Now, let’s get started. ————————————————-

Avoiding your sensitivities can be tough for many people, what with all the holiday parties and holiday treats lurking around the office.

It’s all about your price: Is the price you pay for eating the foods you are sensitive and/or intolerant to not so bad, or way too great? The only who knows this is you.

Keep your eyes on the prize:

Feeling good physically throughout the holidays and into January.

Action Steps

1) Write it down. Go to Staples or Indigo and buy a little book with a little pen/penci and carry it around with you. Write down everything you eat all day long

Keeping a food log in this way keeps you honest and brings your attention back to the present and to what you are doing. This also forces you to pause for a few moments so you can really decide if this is the indulgence you want.

2) Keep your exercise/gym routine. Why? You’ll feel better about yourself and people who feel better about themselves make healthier food choices.

3) Go to parties on a stomach full of protein and vegetables and healthy carbohydrates. Eat your healthy dinner before you go. This will help keep those cravings and party binges to a minimum.

And make sure you eat your regular meals throughout the day as well. Starving yourself all day will make you binge in the evening. You’ll be so hungry, you’ll forget all about what you wanted to avoid until it’s too late.

4) Pick your parties. Let’s just be frank about it party-goers — some parties have better food than others. Decide beforehand at which parties you will indulge.

If you are too much of a free spirit for that, then when you are about to indulge (before you pick something up and put it on your plate) think to yourself, “If I indulge here, I will only have one other indulgence left for the week (see below). Is this worth it?”

Sometimes the answer will be a resounding, “Yes!” and other times, you may even shock yourself, it will be a “No, actually this isn’t really worth it.”

If you indulge everyday, you will have many food reactions. Two snack-sized indulgences per week most likely will not set you off course as long as you don’t binge. Which, if you are following #2 above, shouldn’t be a problem.

5) The Office Conundrum. Always have healthy snacks on you at the office, especially those that contain protein. Realize that the flood of office treats will make you react/flare-up before the holidays have even started.

If will-power is not your strong suit, don’t let anyone put any treat on your desk that you would not give your right arm to eat. If they do, physically remove it immediately.

Nine times out of ten the office treats aren’t that great — save your indulgences for later ( two per week max as per #3). If someone brings in their homemade treat baked with the help of the gods, go ahead and indulge but make sure to write it down as per #1.

And make sure to sit back and s-a-v-o-u-r your indulgence. Turn your computer screen off and sit back in your chair. Since you are going to pay for this with a physical reaction, you might as well have maximum enjoyment.

5) Make it a 10. How many times have you eaten something at a party and then thought, “Why did I eat that whole thing? It wasn’t even that good!” Take a bite or a small piece of something and if it’s not a 10 out of 10, don’t eat anymore. Find something that’s a 10 and make that your indulgence. Or defer your indulgence to your next party.

And what if everything at the party is a 10?

There are two options here:

Option No. 1: Take a very small piece of 4 or 5 different treats. Enough for a small mouthful of each. Then, as you indulge in each one, remember to s-a-v-o-u-r. Maximum flavour is obtained in that first bite and whether it’s a small bite or a large bit doesn’t make any difference to the taste.

Option No. 2: You’ll need to exercise some self-discipline, which shouldn’t be too hard if you (a) have a stomach full of veggies and protein and (b) keep your focus on what you want more: this umpteenth dessert, the enjoyment of which will quickly become just a vague blur on the sea of food reactions that was also known as “December” or to feel comfortable in your body — no achy joints, miserable digestive systems or angry skin.

Remember: Eyes. Prize.

TC