6 Tips for Sticking to the Paleo Diet Over the Holidays
6 Tips for Sticking to the Paleo Diet Over the Holidays
1. Treat yourself:
Identify some foods that excite you: maybe it’s paleo tacos, pizza or baked goods. Have paleo options on hand so that when the people around you are eating their treats you can have yours too.
2. Decide on your splurges:
If you are going to splurge a bit over the holidays, decide ahead of time exactly what that will look like. I like to have REAL cheese on my homemade paleo pizza crust and a gluten-free chocolate croissant on Christmas morning. Be specific and stick to it.
3. Have a plan to get back on track:
Oftentimes when we “slip up” we let that be the reason to continue partaking in the very behaviour we are trying to change. So, decide that if you do fall off the wagon you will get back to the paleo diet with your very next meal. Don’t put it off until tomorrow or next week.
4. Know your non-negotiable foods:
You may or may not be aware of the foods that disagree with your body. Many of us who use the paleo diet to manage an autoimmune condition or chronic illness have developed at least some awareness as to what provokes our symptoms when it comes to foods. If you are aware of these foods you can make an informed decision about whether or not you want to indulge.
If you don't know which foods are impacting you, check out the Paleo Quickstart guide below. It contains a food journal and symptoms tracker that will allow you to start identifying these for yourself.
5. Bring a dish to contribute:
I always recommend bringing a paleo dish to contribute if you are heading to someone’s house for a meal. This way you know there will be something there that you can have.
6. Take the focus off the food:
When it comes to treating yourself or going to holiday parties-- think outside the box. What else is there to enjoy beyond the food? What else brings you a sense of pleasure?
Maybe your personal treat looks like a massage, a mani-pedi, or a new outfit
And perhaps when you are at an event you begin to notice the ambience, music, decorations and good conversation.
When you change the focus of what you want to get out of a particular event, your experience will change. If you go in wanting a good paleo meal out of it you are likely going to be disappointed. But if you go into it for social connection and to enjoy the seasonal festivities, you will feel satisfied and empowered.
If you are new to this whole paleo thing or want to identify which foods work best for your body, grab the free Paleo Quickstart Guide linked in the comments below.
PaleoQuicstartGuide.com
EatToHealCourse.com (if you are eating paleo for autoimmune disease)