Do you overeat during the holidays?
Thanksgiving weekend is just around the corner for us Canadians.
I love getting together with family and friends to celebrate all the things we are thankful for: health, family, love, togetherness. Things that are so much more appreciated in this time of Covid.
I love the food! Deviled eggs, Sweet Potatoes, Roast and Apple Pie being at the top of my list.
And it is perfectly ok and normal to love food!
Food provides comfort, even if it is for a short time. And lord knows we all can use some comfort during these times.
We associate food with wonderful times. It reminds us of home, our childhood, or that time we visited a loved one; or had our favorite holiday meal.
Food connects us to others, to our family, our culture. It’s a way we express feelings: I love you, so I cook for you!
However, all this goodness can become problematic if we are not careful. Difficulties arise when: We do it in excess; We feel out of control; We can’t stop when we are satisfied; We don’t have any other way of creating connection or comfort.
Here are my top 3 strategies to help you avoid overeating during the upcoming holiday:
Stay hydrated: We require between 2 and 3 litres of fluid per day. Drink water, herbal teas, eat lots of veggies. Being dehydrated will make you experience:: headaches, fatigue, low blood pressure, flushing, irritability, etc. We also tend to confuse thirst with hunger. Yikes!
Have a healthy snack beforehand: If you are having a celebratory dinner make sure you have a healthy snack a couple hours prior. Include protein, fibre and healthy fats. Some good examples: handful of nuts, plain Greek yogurt with fruit, hummus and veggies.
Practice Mindful eating: Chew your food until it is almost liquified. As Grandma would say, chew your food 15-30 times! Take the time to enjoy the flavors and textures in your mouth before you swallow. This will prevent overeating by giving your gut time to send messages to the brain to say you’re full.
Moderation is key. Make this holiday about reconnecting with your loved ones and celebrating all the blessings you have.
Now, on my quest to finding healthy options to family favourites I came across this Scalloped Sweet Potatoes recipe:
Ingredients (serves 6)
2 Sweet Potato
1/4 Yellow Onion (thinly sliced)
2 tbsps Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Almond Flour
1 1/2 cups Organic Coconut Milk
1 1/2 tsps Garlic Powder
1 tbsp Thyme (stems removed)
3/4 tsp Sea Salt
2/3 cup Pureed Pumpkin
Instructions
Peel and slice sweet potatoes to approximately 1/8-inch thick or use a mandolin. Thinly slice the onions and set aside.
Grease baking dish with a bit of coconut oil. (Note: use a 9x9 baking dish for 6 servings.)
Create overlapping layers of the sweet potato slices in the dish and sprinkle the onions between each layer. Continue until all sweet potato and onion is used up.
Preheat oven to 400ºF (204ºC).
In a saucepan, heat coconut oil on medium heat. When melted, add almond flour and whisk for 1 to 2 min.
Add coconut milk, pumpkin, garlic powder, thyme and salt. Whisk until combined and warm, about 5 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the sweet potatoes. Top with any leftover sprigs of thyme or a dash of dried thyme.
Bake in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, uncovered, until sweet potatoes are cooked through. Enjoy!
Recipe from That Clean Life