A simple tool to help you eat intuitively and feel good throughout the holiday season

Does it ever feel like your healthful eating intentions go out the window on holidays or perhaps holidays cause you a lot of food or eating stress?

If so, I’ve created a simple acronym to help you stay intentional, eat intuitively, and feel good this Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season.

It's called FEAST. Here’s what it stands for and how you can use it:

Favor-it(e)

Give yourself full permission to eat and enjoy your favorite foods without guilt. (Unless of course you have a medical reason to avoid them!). While you’re at it, remember the sage Intuitive Eating wisdom—if you love it, savor it; and if you don’t love it, consider whether you really want to eat it.

Eat breakfast

Avoid the temptation to “save up” your calories for the main meal or to skip breakfast because you have too many other things on your to-do list. Skipping meals earlier in the day will likely leave you over-hungry, irritable, and less able to respect your fullness cues or to make intentional food choices at the holiday meal.

Instead, carve out time for a nourishing and satisfying breakfast, such as oatmeal topped with berries and nuts, a veggie-packed omelet, or peanut butter toast topped with fruit along with some yogurt.

Activate

Plan and prioritize some enjoyable movement. You don’t need to earn or burn your Thanksgiving calories but including some physical activity into your day can boost your immune system, mood, and energy levels, while lowering any potential holiday stress. Perhaps you can even find a way to grab your family or friends and incorporate some gentle movement into your holiday festivities. Odds are other people may appreciate the chance to get moving too!

Sit and slow

Rather than standing up to graze on appetizers or the dessert buffet, do your best to sit down purposefully with a plate and silverware. Slow down just enough to tune into your hunger and fullness cues, how your food tastes, and how you’d like to feel.

Turn up the veg

Make your plate as colorful as possible with lots of veggies. There are so many health-promoting benefits.

That's it!

While you're FEAST-ing, don’t forget to pause and consider the reason for the season. What’s most meaningful to you about this day or event? Take a few moments to soak up whatever that is, while committing to letting food be a pleasant complement to your holiday rather than a source of stress, angst, or regret!