The #1 Rule for Dieting on Christmas: scrap it 🤯
In a society where high beauty standards dictate what we should look like in order to conform, having a good relationship with food can be tampered with.
And what is a good and healthy relationship with food? For me, this includes not restricting yourself during the festive season just so 'you won't have to pay harder for it in the new year'. While maintaining a balanced diet is key to looking after yourself, I believe that treating ourselves when it's Christmastime is also good for us. Here's why I think we should all have a guilt-free Christmas, especially this year. 🙌
For the sake of tradition
In Malta and abroad, food forms part of our culture and yearly traditions. Eating turkey, mince pies, fruitcake and many other tasty foods is as common as cold weather when it’s Christmas.
In a time where large social events are against the law, many family members won’t be allowed to meet up and a normal 2020 Christmas seems out of the question, celebrating with food can bring a sense of new-found satisfaction. If anything, indulging in the usual Christmas treats and goodies can instil a sense of normality in us this year. 🎅
Guilt about food may backfire
As it turns out, the guilt we’ve been taught to associate with eating holiday food can do more damage than we may think. We’ve been taught to eat until we’re stuffed during the Christmas holidays, and that it’s seemingly ‘bad’ to do so.
But sitting down for a meal with the pre-decided feeling of guilt may actually make us overeat way more than we should, because we’re already doing something ‘wrong’ anyway. Instead, sitting down for a Christmas meal with the intention of eating mindfully can help us control our portions better - without damaging our state of mind. 🎄
Rewarding yourself with something delicious is good
Sure, you don’t want to start a habit of snacking every time you do something good. But thinking of Christmas as a time to relax, let go and treat yourself to a hot meal or a sweet treat is a good thing. It’ll help you build a healthy relationship with food, where you won’t want to feel the need to run a marathon just for eating an extra piece of turkey or a qagħaqa tal-għasel. 🎁
We deserve a COVID distraction
Yes, we do. In a year of social changes, setting boundaries for our own health and saying a temporary goodbye to some simple pleasures in life, I think we deserve to be able to eat good food without excessively restricting ourselves. Good Christmas food brings people together. If you’re going to be giving your holiday greetings over a call this year, at least you’ll have something in common with the other person - good food in front of you. 🥂
Which favourite Christmas food are you looking forward to eating the most this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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