Dealing with Holiday Food (and Everything Else) Overwhelm

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” and other seasonal holidays all around – decorations and lights, crowded stores, and all sorts of holiday goodies on easy-to-reach supermarket shelves. I always have the urge to cook up or bake something festive, even before the holidays come, just to follow along with the spirit in the air. Beautifully wrapped and packaged cookies, cakes, candy, cupcakes, gingerbread kits, cheese selections, friends gatherings, corporate celebrations, cocktails and buffets, gift shopping and holiday traffic… lots of reasons to get overwhelmed and even sometimes anxious and allow the emotional state dictate your actions, like reaching for yet another cookie or grabbing a handful of chocolate “kisses” while passing the front desk counter.

Now is the perfect time to use your executive function, planning and strategizing skills (sure you do such tasks for work or managing your personal finances).

Food overwhelm.

1. If your anxiety is often around indulgent and rich food – take a few minutes to sit down with a pencil and paper and list all the foods (use magazines, recipe books and Google to help you with the list) that make you feel uneasy or out of control (think pecan pie, chocolates, butter cookies, cheese plates, puff pastry hors d’oeuvres, cocktails etc.). Now go through the list and rate each of your foods on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 being least desired, and 5 being the top culinary experience). Look at all the 1s and 2s – probably not worth fussing about them if your satisfaction factor doesn’t register, so either just have a bite and move on, or don’t even bother trying. Most likely half of your list will go down with 1s and 2s, making you realize that when you listen to your true cravings and preferences, you can pick exactly what you want and leave behind everything else. Just stay mindful while you are surrounded by delicious foods, find an inner gourmet who will guide you through your culinary experience without feeling overstuffed and guilty.
2. Use the strategy of “Delaying gratification” or “You can have it all, but not all at once” – spread out your consumption of treats throughout the day and even days. Have a sugar cookie with breakfast, a slice of apple pie with lunch and a chocolate square to finish off your dinner. Taste-test and savor every bite, enjoy and – move on to your next activity of the day. Try not to eat treats, or anything for that matter, in front of your computer, phone or TV so your brain as well as your mouth and stomach register the incoming food and check-marks the satisfaction box.

Shopping overwhelm.

1. I can’t thank technology and eCommerce enough for the advances in on-line shopping – what could be more convenient?! Try to get most of your holiday shopping done from the comfort of your home. If shopping for clothing – make a list of those brands that you know your size with and that are consistent. These days even outlet stores – like Marshalls and TJ Max have a great on-line service and selection, helping to avoid the crowds, long lines and traffic.
2. Grocery shopping: do not leave the house without a grocery shopping list! Do take a few minutes to jot it down on a sticky note or your phone, trust me – you’ll be saving time, frustration, money and extra trips to the store.
3. Try not to shop in person on weekends, since the entire town is doing the same. If you have some downtime during the week – take the opportunity to do some well-planned shopping then.

Holiday season is a wonderful time of the year, bringing joy, excitement, and family fun. But it is also a time of too much of everything, as outlined above. However, when you are equipped with a good plan in hand, potential issues will not derail you.

Stay nourished my friends!