Two weeks ago, Dr. Rob sent a blog highlighting ways to increase your immune system including proper dietary choices this Holiday Season. However, as you gather for holiday parties with family, friends and co-workers, it seems like everyone is insistently eager for you to try their pie, encourage you to drink glass after glass of eggnog, and add another helping of potato latkes to your plate. So how do you politely decline their generous offers so you can maintain your health, without being rude or insulting to your host?
Here are some of our helpful tactics and lessons we have learned that will help you maintain your health integrity and ensure that you are re-invited to the next social gathering!
1. Don‘t arrive on an empty stomach! If you know you are going somewhere there will be lots of temptations, eat before you arrive so you are not hungry and won’t cave into eating everything that is set before you. However, there may be some hosts that simply won’t allow you to come to their home or party without eating something (if your family is anything like my Greek family, you know exactly what I mean). In these cases, rather than appearing ungrateful, allow the person to be hospitable in other ways. If they offer you cake or a cocktail, politely decline but ask for some fruit or a cup of coffee/tea. By accepting something, you will appease your host and stay true to your nutrition plan.
2. Offer to bring something! Prepare your own healthy and delicious meal or appetizer. If other dishes don’t fall in line with your eating patterns, at least you will have something you can eat. You can also be a positive influence on your friends and family by showing them that healthy food can be really tasty! This also works with beverages. Rather than consuming eggnog and cocktails, you can bring your own organic wine, fancy sparkling water or gluten free beer.
3. Don’t stand by the food! If you spend your time socializing with those that are gathered around the food table, it will be all too tempting and easy to eat. Even worse, because you will be enthralled in conversation, you won’t be mindful of what you’re eating, and will no doubt overeat. Instead, visit the food table, take what is appropriate, and then step away from the table! If it’s out of sight, it will be less tempting to pick up.
��4.��Avoid the food pushers! I’m sure we all have those relatives and friends that love to pressure you into eating. They come over to you in an innocent way, encouraging you to try the indulgence they are sharing, convincing you that, “it’s the holidays, just have one, a little won’t hurt you.” It’s hard to face pressure like this from your family and co-workers. Although they typically say such things innocently and out of love, it puts you in a difficult position, as you don’t want to appear ungrateful, but you also know that if you eat that fruitcake it will be toxic to your body and lower your immune system. So, if you see that notorious food pusher at the party, do your best to avoid her. If she sneak attacks you, you can politely decline what she is offering and try one of the tactics above, such as asking her for something else. If she insists you take it, and even worse, waits in front of you as you take a bite, scrutinizing your facial expressions in hopes of a positive reaction, then take a small bite, compliment her cooking, and she will be off to find the next unsuspecting guest. If all else fails, you can always go with, “I’m sorry, my chiropractor gave me strict instructions to eliminate sugar for the next few weeks in order to enhance my care and help me reach my health goals.” Usually if you say doctor’s orders, people will back off.
5.Have a food plan! If you didn’t have an opportunity to eat before arriving or to prepare your own dish, know what to eat and what to avoid. Focus on eating vegetables, fruits and proteins (meat, nuts and some cheese) instead of breads, crackers, cookies and other treats. Having a plan will allow you to make more confident food choices during all of these “off-track” opportunities. You can also offset some of the negative and inflammatory effects of these party foods by ensuring your other meals that day, and the next day, are composed of high quality, low toxicity foods. Lastly, be sure to take your Vitamin D, probiotics, and make yourself a glass of Dr. Rob’s fizzy lifting drink.
If you are still confused about what constitutes as a high quality food choice, be sure to register for our next workshop on January 26th, 2017, “The Fuel Project: a revolutionary look at food requirements and the human body”.
Have any tricks of your own? Please share them in our comments section!
Be well,
Lea
