The holidays are coming and you do not want to be deprived of your favorite foods and drinks which are part of the enjoyment of the Holidays.  So how can you savor and enjoy everything you want, keep your digestion flowing with ease and not go up a pant size. 

 You need a plan 

As human beings we are not meant to be deprived.  We are not meant to be slaves.  The more we try and deprive ourselves the more we rebel.  So I am proposing you allow yourself the freedom to eat whatever your body wants on Thanksgiving.   We are here on planet earth having a physical experience and we are meant to enjoy it.  In my opinion we don't let ourselves have enough joy.  So as the holidays approach intend to have as much pleasure as you possibly can. I know I am.  If you approach the holidays this way you will be more connected and less stressed.   By being connected to your body you will find yourself enjoying your food more and eating less.   REMEMBER YOU CAN EAT WHAT EVER YOU WANT ON THANKSGIVING but not more than you want.

Remember also, being with your freinds and family and loving them as they are (even if you think they should be different) is part of the joy of the holiday, so love them up, warts and all !

By following the guidelines below you can celebrate this holiday season without deprivation, feel good and not gain any weight.

 Principles to follow for Thanksgiving day and other Holiday events:

·         Focus on what you are eating.  Taste and savor every bite. Notice the beautiful colors and textures.

·         Think about how you are feeling when you are eating.  How you feel effects your metabolism.  If you are panicked, distressed or shameful you can't metabolize your food well. If you are loving it you will metabolize it fully.

·         Use your breath, breath connects you to your feelings and your body. Take 3 deep breaths before you eat and again between courses.

·          Eat until you are satisfied, only what your body wants not more. Listen to your body when it says it is full.  Remember you can have more tomorrow.

·         Let yourself recuperate after the heavy meal. Eat light the next morning.

Apply a few basic principles of food combining

You will be able to digest your food more easily, have it move through your system quickly and  still eat what you want.

·    Have a green salad before each meal.  This will enable your system to escort the meal through your system quickly.

·         Eat fruit before the meal never after. Start your day with fruit or a fruit smoothie.

·         Choose red wine over other alcoholic beverages.

·         Organic dark chocolate is the most digestible dessert, if you like it bring some to the office party so you don't eat the other desserts.

·         Eat good food combinations: Do not mix proteins (meat, fish, cheese, eggs) with starches (bread, potatoes, pasta). Eat lots of vegetables with each meal. This will enable your system to digest each meal more completely. Since you are EATING WHAT EVER YOU WANT ON THANKSGIVING plan this for 3 days before and 3 days after the big feast.

For example the day after Thanksgiving have a fruit smoothie for breakfast. For lunch you can have vegetables with potatoes, stuffing or yams. For dinner have turkey with vegetables, Cauliflower Mashed "Potatoes" or make a turkey stew with vegetables.

 If this is difficult to do, try to follow these food combining principles at least until dinner. Be sure to have salad before lunch and before dinner.

Here is a recipe for Cauliflower Mash "Potatoes" that combines well with the turkey so you won't feel deprived of your "potatoes":

Also a recipe for Braised Kale and Butternut Squash.  This is a delicious combination of sweet squash and slightly bitter kale, great for the holiday feast.  This recipe combines as a starch.

CAULIFLOWER MASH "POTATOES"

(adapted from Marlena Cipriano Torres)

2 cups cauliflower cut into chunks

½ cup raw goat cheese (Alta Dena makes a cheddar style that is good)

1 tsp Italian Seasonings

Sea salt & pepper to taste

Place cauliflower in boiling water and cook until tender but not soft.  Drain and put into a food processor.  Add cheese and seasonings, process until smooth like mashed potatoes. Enjoy.