This post was originally written in 2017 and I thought I’d bring it back.

The holidays can be fun, festive, filled with rich delicacies. But they also are often when everyone gets all worried about the sweet and savory indulgences that will no doubt grace every holiday table. It becomes a time where often you give yourself permission to let loose and eat whatever, and then the new year rolls around and you feel like you got hit by a food truck. So this year I say, "Don't Do It!"

Love yourself enough to NOT do the things you know you will regret later. And here's how...

1. Give Yourself the Gift of Balance

What I’m proposing is a complete mindset shift around how you honor your body and your self-care needs during the holiday season. This is a time for giving, so how about you give yourself a gift that’s going to nourish you beyond the 10-minute sugar rush of that wretchedly unhealthy fruitcake your aunt likes to make. 

Give yourself balance in the form of downtime away from apps & social media. Balance in the form of yoga & movement. Balance in the form of eating one of something instead of six of something. Try to implement a balancing gift to yourself every day. Something small, but doable, like a hot bath (see my blog about baths if you need ideas). 

2. Set Boundaries with Your Family

Talk to your family and explain that you’ll be doing things differently this year, that just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you’re going to settle for nutritionally deprived foods that take more than they give to your body.

Explain that you’ll be creating some healthy delicious options and offer to share with them, it is the holidays, after all. If that's too much for them to fully understand, a simple polite, "No thank you" will suffice. 

Whether you are sugar-free or gluten-free, you do not need to compromise your health to appease your family. Remember, "No" is a complete and loving sentence.

3. Exercise Your Creativity in the Kitchen

Try new and exciting recipes. Superfoods, interesting fresh fruits, and vegetables that you don’t always get are fun additions. Also, think about how you can incorporate healthy nuts, seeds, and oils.

4. Tips to Eat Healthy Without Feeling Deprived

Healthy food can be totally gourmet and special too. Make your own homemade chocolate with mint leaves and stevia for sweetness. Adorn your salads with pomegranates and walnuts.

Here are a few more tips and tricks…

-        Swap white potatoes with roasted sweet potato and butternut squash

-        Thicken the drippings from your turkey for gravy with arrowroot or tapioca starch to stay away from gluten and GMO corn starch.

-        Try making coconut whipped cream instead of dairy and serve with homemade roasted pumpkin with a bit of cinnamon, stevia, and crumbled pecans

-        Ditch the bread and stick with extra veggies drizzled with high-quality olive oil

-        Use plain yogurt (dairy-free if you can find it) instead of sour cream

-        Make cauliflower rice instead of white rice

Want even more great tips to help you lose weight, improve your digestion and increase your energy?

Check out my Winter Detox program details here http://drlaramay.com/14daydetox

Or join me on my Facebook page where I’ll be sharing more information, tips, and recipes to help you live a happier, healthier life.

If you are in the Tahoe area, on Dec 12th I will be co-hosting a workshop with Marianne Schneider from 5th Element Healing Center. We will be teaching you how to transform this holiday season from frantic to calm. Check out the details here.

Happy Holidays,

Dr. Lara