Comfort eating over Christmas 

For many, Christmas means an abundance of food, family and friends. But some people can experience intense loneliness and resort to comfort eating—bringing on unwanted weight gain that launches them into the vicious dieting cycle. But there is something you can do: adopt a mindful approach to eating!

 

what is mindful eating?

Mindful eating is a non-dieting approach to feed your inner hunger. It means deliberately paying attention to the food you eat in the present moment—on a mental, emotional and physical level. It is also about learning to fully experience and savour the food you choose to eat. Eating with awareness is important, because it is often the eating behaviours we are unaware of that lead to weight gain.

three ways to be more mindful over Christmas

1. Create a safe environment. Get rid of any junk food from your pantry and fridge before Christmas day. Out of sight, out of mind!
2. Plan your meals so you don’t get stuck. Remember to also give yourself permission to include some favourite foods. Eat these slowly, savouring every mouthful and using all your senses.
3. If you are likely to spend Christmas day alone, arrange for some nurturing activities that don’t involve eating for the wrong reasons. Activities for single people might include buying yourself fresh flowers, watching a funny movie and doing something kind for someone less fortunate. For example, volunteering to help with a soup kitchen for homeless people will take the focus off your loneliness, connect you with others and give you a real buzz!

It is normal to overeat occasionally but this should be done with awareness, so you can compensate later. If you do have a setback over the festive season, remember it isn’t the end of the world. You can always start tomorrow.

Setbacks should be viewed as learning experiences, not failure.

 

Click here for a recipe.

 

Extract from Signs of the Times, December 2007.

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Copyright © 2006 Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ACN 093 117 689

December 2007

• Jackie O: Cooking for the Planet

• The Road to Bethlehem

• Born to Die

• The White Azalea

• A Nobel Cause

• Uncovering Loneliness

• A Nobel Cause

• The Carol that Stopped a War

• For the Love of God

• Sewing a Better Future

• When Friends Come Through

• Trends:

  The (spiritual) importance of being green.

• Food Matters Recipe:

  Pan-Toasted Sandwiches.

• Lifeguide

  Learning to have a voice

• Our Times
  Safet first, Norovirus and more.
  

• Food Matters:
  Comfort eating over Christmas.
  

• Book Review:
  Augustine, Sinner and Saint.
  

• Medical Hotline
  With Dr James Wright.
  

• Bible Discovery:
  Loving like God Loves

This article comes from a
regular column in
Signs of the Times.