Eating Through the Holidays

I know you know that the holiday season is here.

As I write this, we are one week from Thanksgiving. I am in denial about it, but it helps that I am not the one hosting this year, so the planning is minimal on my end. But first, I must ensure I get there with my homemade cranberry sauce.

This time of year is often a roller coaster for people: Halloween, Thanksgiving, the Christmas season, and New Year’s. All holidays in which eating more than usual is the norm.

Halloween

Halloween candy – I never have that much candy in my home at any other time of year.

We still get plenty of people coming to the door, but it is diminishing yearly. So this year, I cut down on how much candy I bought.

Fifteen years ago, I would buy four large bags and go through at least three of them and then some.

In 2021, I bought three large bags and never even opened one on Halloween. Then, a couple of months later, that bag of candy was opened and depleted quickly.

This year, I bought two large bags and gave out most of the contents. First, the York Peppermint Patties were rescued from going to a stranger’s home.

This year, I bought what I thought we would need and gave out most of it. If I had run out, I would have closed the door and turned out the light. But, instead, I finally found the proverbial sweet spot.

Thanksgiving

Less than a month later, we are on the verge of Thanksgiving. Having worked with people for so many years, I swear that between the cooler weather, the time change, and the end of the year in sight, people tend to go with the “let it ride” mentality. So let’s keep going rather than getting back into our routine or trying to keep one.

Yes, Thanksgiving is the holiday dedicated to eating – the feast, the celebration of the harvest, or whatever. And, in theory, it is one day.

However, here is my reality. We have the day, but some people want or need the leftovers.

And, when I am with family around those couple of days – having traveled about 400 miles – we will have more than just that one meal. We will go out too. More than usual. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It is acknowledging that we not only have a larger meal than normal in the middle of the week – along with eating out and likely drinking.

Oh, and more sitting than usual. Either from traveling in the car or hosting house guests. It is a holiday, and we can shake up the routine.

Note: my dogs don’t care if it is a holiday; they get walked 365 days a year. Seriously, even when I had COVID, I still walked them. When I ended up in the hospital a couple of years ago for two days, I had walked the dogs that morning. These guys do not slack on their walk ever.

Christmas Is Coming 

After Thanksgiving, we know what is next. Even people who do not actively celebrate Christmas get involved here. We get one month to squeeze all this in.

While even I have said that it is just Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – I know this is inaccurate.

I do bake specific items in December. I use more butter, flour, and sugar in December than combined in the other 11 months. However, it is one time of year, and I enjoy it. 

There are the Holiday Strolls, the Christmas Tree lighting, the friends who want to get together for drinks, and the family visits. 

It is a lot. I can be a lot. Is it a lot?

Do you keep your routine as much as possible during this time, or is it blowing off any exercise or regular eating habits?

New Year’s Eve

Growing up, New Year’s Eve was not a big thing. But, as an adult, in my home, we do have our traditions. Christmas is hectic for various reasons. Last year, our New Year’s Eve was busy being the groom’s parents at a wedding.

But for many people, this is a Last Supper mentality. For example, we made a New Year’s Eve dinner with friends at their house. I would always bring dessert but stopped doing so in what ended up being the last couple of times we made that dinner.

Why? Two reasons. For one, we were often so full of dinner we could barely eat the dessert. And, two: I knew the host would start fresh on January 1 without fail, including exercise on January 1 and any leftover holiday foods that were not considered healthy. So I know where the dessert went when I left it behind.

January 1 and Beyond

Here is the roller coaster side of things. In January, people start fresh – whether it is January 1 or the Monday following, there is the New Year, New You mentality. Seriously, I won’t even attempt the gym until mid-January.

People give up alcohol for January – Dry January. There is nothing wrong with that.

People give up sugar for January. They give up a lot of things in January. Until Valentine’s Day.

This year, please continue as much as possible with your routine. Keep up your exercise and your “normal” eating habits as much as possible. Keep the alcohol consumption the same as the rest of the year. Skip the roller coaster and stay as even as you can.

Can you do it?