7bet gaming or sevenbet How to temper overeating this Christmas season
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“Don’t eat another one,” my mom says with a side eye as I hover my hand greedily over a box of star-shaped, Christmas-themed sugar cookies.
As someone who spent her childhood in England, with four years in boarding school, my mom always recounts the hardier habits of the British that, I think, have disappeared with fast food and modern conveniences.
The no-nonsense Brits at Christmas
Whenever I get sick, she always tells me, “Get out of bed! The nuns say the best thing you can do is take a walk!” She and her sister maintain that British “stiff upper lip” constantly, going through life without complaint. And every Christmas season, she brings up the memory of being told as a child, “Merry Christmas. Don’t eat too much.”
The same applied to vacations.”Have a good holiday, and don’t eat too much,” was another frequently used SOP saying.
What a funny thing to say. It sounds quite rude. It’s a strange thing the English would say despite their reputation as being very polite. But my mom has often corroborated with her old British classmates that it would be a saying the elders would tell them in the UK.
Don’t eat too much at Christmas? Isn’t that the whole point? To celebrate? The same way Christians fast at Lent to acknowledge Jesus Christ’s death, we feast at Christmas to celebrate his birth.
Growing up, my mom wasn’t one to tiptoe around things. “No coddling” was basically her parenting motto. When it came to health and eating, she believed in straight talk—no sugarcoating, just honest, sometimes eye-rolling conversations that somehow made her point without making me feel terrible.
Always mindful of health, sometimes through not-so-gentle motivation, her approach was always well-intentioned and made a point asserting the value of balanced living and a healthy relationship with food.
The excesses of the holidays
Recognizing that hormonal changes or individual health conditions can affect eating habits, I understand how challenging it can be to maintain balance during the festive season—especially when caught in that “what-the-hell” cycle of gorging, where one slice of cake turns into many.
The ‘Ber’ months in the Philippines are often a whirlwind of celebration that packs on the pounds, often without one realizing. We have Halloween with its bags of candy, family gatherings during Undas, and the growing tradition of Thanksgiving. After Christmas, we have more merrymaking on New Year’s Eve. I’ve also noticed there are quite a few Scorpio birthday parties in November since Valentine’s Day is about nine months apart.
But Christmas—that’s a whole different beast. The numerous get-togethers with old friends, family visits, and office parties. Beyond the logistics of traffic, the efforts of gift wrapping, and occasional overindulgence, these celebrations bring the true joy of connecting with people we love. But how to balance it all?
Photo from Pexels/Jill Wellington
Finding balance during Christmas
Drawing from Confucius’ concept of the middle way, moderation is key. When a Christmas dinner with friends at night is lavish, balance it with lighter meals earlier in the day. A simple breakfast or lunch of leftover chicken, fish, or egg salad with toast and a fresh salad can tide you over for a hearty evening meal.
Mindfulness is your greatest ally while navigating the social aspects of the festive season. Being intentional about eating is more than just strict restraint. Eating slowly and savoring each bite as if it’s a conversation with one’s meal is a helpful approach to practice. Also, learning to listen to the body’s subtle signals of hunger and fullness.
Photo from Pexels/Our Whisky Foundation
It helps to distinguish between true appetite and holiday-induced grazing. Instead of reaching for the charcuterie board or sipping brandy during lulls in conversation, listen and engage with a loved one’s story over mindless snacking. Keeping hydrated with water between festive drinks helps, too.
When it comes to gifting, consider moving beyond traditional sweets and trinkets. Thoughtful alternatives like a box of fruits can be a delightful surprise. Muscat grapes or Korean pears are especially in fashion, and offer bursts of freshness and nutrition. Essential items like bags of rice can be a practical way of showing care, especially for families who might appreciate such support. Even better, consider contributing to or volunteering with a local feeding program, turning the holiday spirit into direct community support.
Photo from Pexels/Israr Ahmrd
Setting positive intentions can transform your approach to holiday eating. Try the simple exercise of writing down your holiday eating goals. Not as a restrictive diet plan but as a gentle guide. Which treats are you genuinely looking forward to? What reasonable portion sizes feel satisfying without discomfort? What’s your deeper motivation? Is it feeling energetic, enjoying family time, maintaining your well-being?
It’s important to frame these intentions positively. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t want, focus on what you do want. Swap “I don’t want to gain weight” or “I feel fat” with affirmations that inspire and uplift like, “I feel energized when I eat mindfully,” “I enjoy nourishing my body during the holidays,” or “I’m creating healthy memories with my loved ones.”
The holidays are about celebrating, and not necessarily restricting yourself too much. And you can always afford to loosen up, while finding joy in the season’s abundance and staying true to personal wellness.
Instead of striving to check off your gift list and just getting it all done, the holidays can go beyond gifts and overconsumption, focusing on family, love, connection, and above all, faith. Drink in moderation. Eat with mindfulness. Celebrate with love.
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