Christmastime is filled with cookies, chocolate, cakes and candy canes, making it difficult to not descend into dietary anarchy.
However one Dalhousie University dietitian says being mindful of what you consume can help you avoid the temptation of so many sweet treats.
“Knowing which treats you’re choosing and why, and choosing the ones you particularly love the most,” explained Dr. Leah Cahill with the school’s Department of Medicine. “Food should have two purposes. It should either nourish your body and provide the nutrients your body needs, or it should bring your body joy and pleasure.”
“So you should ask yourself when you’re eating things, is this giving me the nutrients I need, or do I particularly love this, and if the answer is no, you should ask yourself why you’re eating it.”
Cahill said studies have shown the first three bites of a delicious food light up the pleasure centre of the brain, but after that, the body and brain stop reacting that way.
“It’s the same amount of joy whether you’ve had a few bites or a whole plate of it,” she told NEWS 95.7’s The Sheldon MacLeod Show.
If you’re hosting a party, Cahill said fruit and veggie trays can be an easy way to offer up a healthy option for guests.
“It doesn’t involve cooking and you don’t have to worry if it gets cold,” she said. “Kids love it too, it also has a lot of colour … and I find when I’ve done that a lot more of them get eaten than other things.”
She also suggested offering food options for those on restricted diets, including vegetarians or those with food allergies and other medical concerns.
“Don’t pressure people to eat, they may have come from another party where they had a complete meal,” she said. “And sometimes people have medical conditions were they wish they could eat your food but they can’t.”
“If they decline, just give them a hug and stop asking them to eat.”
If you have kids, Cahill added children tend to mimic their parents’ behaviour, so if you want your little one to eat healthily, you need to set the example.
She said overall, it’s not necessarily about restricting treats over the holidays, it’s about making sure you’re not physically hungry but in a situation where unhealthy foods are the only option.
"Be kind to yourself," Cahill said. "Being kind to yourself involves eating the healthy food that your body needs at regular times, as well as letting yourself enjoy treats that you love without guilt."
