How to Eat Healthy During the Holidays

Last Updated on November 26, 2023 by Cathy

The holidays are here and it brings warm memories of laughter with friends and family. It’s also a time to indulge in cookies, candy, and alcohol. But when you are trying to eat healthily it leaves you wondering.

What am I supposed to eat?

Eating healthy during the holidays is tough. Especially around Christmas when everyone keeps bringing plates full of cookies and fudge. They look so good it is too tempting to eat “just one.”

Going to parties you don’t want to be starving in a room full of delicious-looking food. I know, I’ve been there. I started avoiding processed foods one week before Thanksgiving. It was a terrible time to start. But, I was recovering from the worst multiple sclerosis flares I’d ever experienced. 

The flare left me with double vision, slurred speech, unable to walk, and paralyzed on half my face. I didn’t care what time of year it was, I was desperate to get better. That year was the worst holiday season I ever experienced. Not knowing what to eat – I ate a simple salad. As I watched everyone enjoying their food I fought back tears feeling sorry for myself.

That was a long time ago and I’ve learned tricks to stay on track and eat healthy during the holidays.

Eat Healthy During the Holidays

Holidays are throughout the year whether it’s Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. You are always going to find yourself in a situation where you don’t know if there will be food for you to eat. 

The trick is to plan ahead. Instead of going to a party and worrying about if there is anything for you to eat, eat beforehand. I like to eat an entire meal before I go somewhere in case I end up staying longer than I anticipated.

You can also keep a snack in your purse, coat pocket, or in your car. You can always excuse yourself for a few minutes while you run out to your car to get your snack. If you bring a snack with healthy fat in it, it will help make you feel full longer.

Healthy snacks for on-the-go:

• Banana chips
• Bare Naked apple chips
• Dang coconut chips
• Dark chocolate 
• EPIC bars
• Evolved almond butter cups
• Fruit
• Inka plantain chips
• LaraBar
• New Primal meat sticks
• Nuts (e.g. cashews, pistachios)
• Paleonola granola
• Raisins (organic only)
• Rickaroons energy bars
• RX Bars
• SeaSnax seaweed
• Seeds (e.g. sunflower, pumpkin)
• Siete tortilla chips
• Sweet Apricity caramels
• That’s It bars
• Vegetable sticks
• Wild Zora meat and veggie bars

Bring a Side Dish

If you know your host, ask if you can bring a side dish, the guests don’t have to know it’s healthy. This is also your chance to show off how delicious real food can taste. Oven-roasted vegetables drizzled with olive oil and seasonings are simple to make and delicious.

If people are aware of your eating habits they may try to make something healthier for you. Pick and choose your food carefully. If you can and you know who made the dish ask them what is in the ingredients. 

Keep It Simple

If you are hosting dinner or staying home with your family keep it simple. Making a huge dinner is time-consuming and stressful. This is a time to stay mindful and enjoy some great food with your loved ones. 

Have you ever seen the price of an organic turkey? – It’s ridiculous. Several years ago my husband and I decided to eat a roasted organic chicken instead of a turkey. It turned out so moist and delicious that even our kids liked it better than turkey. We haven’t had another turkey since.

Roasted chicken recipe:

• Preheat oven to 400° F 
• Place one whole organic chicken (giblets, liver removed) in a Dutch oven on 3 canning jar lids (to get the chicken off the bottom)
• Generously sprinkle with sea salt
• Place a few sprigs of Rosemary into the chicken cavity (optional)
• Add about 1/4 cup of filtered water to the Dutch oven to cover the bottom
• Cover with lid and roast for 1 hour

You won’t believe how moist and delicious the chicken turns out. You may want to roast two chickens.

Simple Traditional Dishes

Eating an anti-inflammatory diet doesn’t mean you can’t eat your favorite traditional dish. Substitute the processed ingredients for real ingredients.

Here are some ideas:

Meat – buy organic pasture-raised poultry and grass-fed meats that aren’t grain-fed. Start a new tradition like I did by serving a roasted chicken instead of turkey to save money. 

Stuffing – obviously, bread is not on the menu. However, you can easily use other ingredients. Such as cassava flour, sweet potatoes, and other ingredients for delicious stuffing.

Veggies – vegetables make a perfect main dish as long as they aren’t covered in butter or sauces with dairy. Instead, use herbs to add flavor. Try my Cinnamon Delicata Squash.

Dessert – pumpkin pie is a traditional Thanksgiving dessert that you can still enjoy. As long as it’s made using ingredients such as almond milk and real pumpkin or organic pumpkin pie purée.

Alcohol

The holidays are also a time for drinking alcohol. However, you may want to think twice before drinking a glass of alcohol. Alcohol affects the central nervous system. It impacts a person’s balance, coordination, and judgment.

If you have balance or coordination issues, adding alcohol makes it even worse. Alcohol also causes a person to need to rush to the bathroom. Some MS medications don’t mix with alcohol and could damage your liver. It’s always best to talk with your doctor first. 

Drinking alcohol is up to you. If you decide to drink make sure it is gluten-free like wine or rum and drink in moderation. Another choice is to drink seltzer water with lemon or lime, other people won’t know it’s not alcohol.

Eat Healthily and Enjoy the Holidays

Remember why you are there. You are there for togetherness and enjoy the company of one another. Don’t let anxiety and stress get to you. Plan ahead to make smart choices, if you do mess up don’t beat yourself up – no one is perfect.

Free Wellness Library!

Subscribe for free and I’ll send you the password to my secret library filled with many printables for your wellness journey.

Want to remember this health tip? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board!

How to Eat Healthy during the Holidays