#110, My Favorite Hacks for Accepting Food Gifts and Enjoying Them Without Paying the Price on My Waistline

The holidays aren’t just loaded with activities and social gatherings that come with all our favorite foods, we are also usually given food items as gifts. In fact, I remember growing up here in rural New Mexico, we had tons of neighbors and friends giving us food. We received anything from tamales to wrapped sweet breads to tins of chocolates. There were definitely items that we looked forward to each year and there was no way I was going to turn down that experience. I still look forward to those gifts. I love enjoying them, giving honest compliments, and giving my own offerings of sweet treats. 
The question becomes, how do we accept food gifts, enjoy them, and still stay healthy throughout the holidays. I’ve got some great hacks for you today. 
This year I want to give out gift bags of sugar-cinnamon pecans. Last year Adela and I spent hours baking and creating cookies, and it was way more stressful than I cared for it to be. So, this year I planned an item that could be made ahead and stored then brought out and packaged when it came time to give things away. Sorry, this is a total spoiler alert for my coworkers and family, but it is important to me that I’m honest with you about how I felt about gifts of food. I don’t think they are necessary or the only thing to give during the holidays. I truly enjoy over the candles and soaps and mugs we receive during this time of the year as well. However, it is such an integrated part of our culture that we really can’t get away from it. 

This week’s podcast centers on what to do if you are given food items AND you want to enjoy them. This is totally optional. Not everything you are offered needs to be ate or drank. But we can all probably name that treat that we anticipate each year or the special person we won’t say “no” to. So, with that in mind, here are some tips to help you stay in control and stay healthy as you enjoy the season: 

1. Have Boundaries. In the past I noticed a lot of my problems came around not having any boundaries. When it comes to eating and drinking it is really helpful to have things you absolutely will or won’t do such as:
   * Not snacking between meals. This one is great. It allows you to say, “Yes” to food and enjoy them with a meal without eating something that is high in calories between meals when you aren’t really hungry AND still enjoying your meal later. This not only doesn’t give your body time to utilize that food before it is given more food, it also doesn’t allow you to utilize hunger signals well. Your body knows when it needs something to eat. So, if we snack between meals we usually aren’t that hungry for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but we’ll still ingest whatever we considered normal for that meal and all that is just EXTRA calories that will be stored on our body. 
   * Not consuming food or caloric drinks after dinner. This boundary is a lifesaver for me. I know that after long days of hanging out with friends or family, I can easily become the world's more intense grazer. I can consume enough food or drinks to make me gain weight quickly if it becomes a habit. I love saying, “no” to those things after supper because it actually eases my anxiety and stops my brain from scanning and looking and thinking about what I should grab a bite or swallow of.  
2. * Not eating certain food makes us feel bad. There are always going to be those foods that we love, but the feeling is one-sided. They tear us up. They cause inflammation and/or digestion issues. Even though they are enjoyable, they in no way serve our bodies. We can just say no and be thankful that there is one less decision to make. For me, I say no to dairy most the time with rare exceptions. That also allows me to have way less decisions to make about what I might or might not eat when it comes to gifts or gatherings and I am thankful for that breathing room. ​
3. Use a protocol. Protocols are fabulous and very simple to make. All you do is write down the food groups you would like to eat at each meal. For example, I don’t usually have breakfast but for both supper and lunch I have a whole-grain carb, a protein, and fruits and veggies. Easy peasy. Now, typically a food gift falls into the carb section so I just swap it out if I decide to indulge. Occacionally, such as in the case of those cinnamon-sugar pecans, there are also fats and proteins so I can sub out both my protein and my carbs and just make sure I include my fruits or veggies with it. And, I’m set. No guilt and tons of enjoyment. 
4. Take it for later. I try to keep tupperwares and plastic bags at work. For example, my boss’s wife is so good about making treats for our staff on a regular basis and they are never worth missing. So, instead of feeling like I’m missing out, I instead grab some and save it for later, for whatever meal I want to have it in. Then I can honestly tell her I enjoyed it (because I did) and I enjoy that little perk during the long school days. 
5. Eat well during your meals. Lastly, it is important that your regular meals are packed full of good nutritions: fiber, fruits and veggies, quality proteins, and healthy fats. This will really curb cravings because your body will be getting what it needs instead of trying to survive from sugar fix to sugar fix. I will be honest and tell you that more than 3 indulgences during the week is more than what my body and brain can handle. Too many simple carbs will start cravings that can cripple my good intentions. You’ll have to figure out what that number is for you and I encourage you to use the scale and keep a food log so that you are aware of any trends that you might want to change before they become a more serious issue. 

It was so fun having this chat with you. Once again I want to encourage you by reminding you that God made food to be enjoyable, as a blessing to our lives and I pray that you find that balance as you both enjoy those gifts during the holiday season and continue to honor God with making healthy choices for your body. 

All my love to you! I’ll talk with you next week. 

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