Most magazines this time of year are trying to scare you about OMG HOLIDAY OVEREATING - WEIGHT GAIN PANTS EXPLOSIONS OMG!!!! However, as you’ve probably guessed, I have a different way of viewing the Holiday Season, food and celebration.

There is often really delicious, awesome food at holiday gatherings.  And, contrary to what we often hear and think about holiday food, great food is one of the awesome things about holidays, right?  It’s part of the enjoyment, and it’s part of the ritual.  It’s a reminder that this time of year is special, and we honor it by making really special food.

There is nothing wrong with loving holiday food, but stressing about it feels terrible.  So how do you let go of the holiday food stress so you can just enjoy the holiday?

Here’s what I recommend.

1) Breathe For Relaxation —Note that I didn’t actually write “deep breathing,” because this is a little different.

How Do You Do It? —When you’re feeling stressed out during the holidays, take a breath in through your nose, filling your lungs about two thirds of the way.  Then hold it for about 5 seconds, and then breathe out.

Why Does It Work? —By breathing in and then holding your breath for a few seconds, your body gets the message that your blood pressure has gone up a bit, so it then dilates your blood vessels, lowering your blood pressure, increasing circulation, and giving you a feeling of relaxation.  Also, by breathing in two thirds of the way,  you’re not artificially exerting the body by taking a deep, totally lung-filling breath.  By relaxing your body, you help to destress your mind and body, allowing you to enjoy yourself and your food, and better digest it.

2) Savor Your Food —Holiday foods and special occasions really are special, so it feels good to get the full enjoyment from these wonderful foods.

How Do You Do It? —Rather than eating quickly, take time to enjoy your food with all of your available senses.  Notice how it looks.  Notice the delicious aromas.  Notice the texture and the taste as the fork meets your mouth.  Do this whether you’re eating sweet potatoes or turkey or salad or dessert.

Why Does It Work? —By savoring, you’re engaging your body and mind in the process of eating.  Savoring stops the “Oh no! This is so many calories, isn’t it? Let’s see, I had the ... and I haven’t been to the gym ... and I still want to have the ... ” conversation that causes so much stress.  Savoring allows you to enjoy your food with your full attention.  It also makes it easier to notice your hunger and fullness, because your mind and body are both aware of the eating process.

3) Feel Gratitude —Feeling gratitude for the holidays and your loved ones is like savoring the experience of the holidays themselves.

How Do You Do It? —When you start to feel stressed, take a moment to feel gratitude instead.  Feel gratitude for whatever is enjoyable about the holidays—seeing your nephew play with a toy you picked out for him, spending time with a relative that you don’t usually see, taking a walk with your sister between dinner and dessert, having the day off from work.  Just take a moment to feel grateful or appreciative for what you have.

Why Does It Work?—Feeling grateful puts you right into the present moment.  You stop feeling guilty about overeating at lunch and worrying about traveling back the next day.  You just experience, instead, what is, and see it from a place of appreciation, rather than stress.

I hope you’ll try these tips and let me know how it goes in the comments section.  By the way, most of what I suggested here only takes a few seconds or so and can be done anywhere at any time!

Also, if you want more support in having a happier, healthier holiday, you can get instant access to a recording of last week’s teleclass, How To Eat Healthfully During The Holidays, by putting your info in the box below.

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Golda is a certified holistic health counselor and founder of Body Love Wellness. She counsels women and men throughout the country on how to get off the dieting roller coaster, give their bodies what they really crave, and love their bodies and themselves. Golda's counseling and activism work have been featured on CBS's The Early Show, ABC's Nightline and Time Out New York. For more support with healing your relationship with food and your body, get your free copy of Golda's Top Ten Tips For Divine Dining by clicking here.