Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that 2020 is the worst and the upcoming holidays are going to be different and, let's face it, weird. Many of us will forgo celebrating with family members that don't live with us. There won't be many of the traditional parades and lighting ceremonies. Holiday shopping will also look different and I would predict a huge spike in online sales this season. One thing I hope does not change is the food. I love food. I never miss a meal. Apart from all of its wonderful benefits, I find food incredibly comforting and this is especially true throughout the holiday season.
When I think of holiday meals, I think of a table full of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing (or dressing if you are a crazy person), green bean casserole, dinner rolls, pies, cookies, and wine. Cranberry sauce is also usually on the table, but I won't touch that stuff. Of course, these are just common foods on my table for the holidays I celebrate, and I know there are way more foods and traditions celebrated in the coming months.
One other thing that comes to mind when I think of holiday foods is how these foods can stress some people out, especially women. If you have disordered thoughts about food, then you may think eating a full plate at Thanksgiving dinner will make you gain weight. There is a lot that goes into this type of thinking and ways to work through it, but the blunt truth is that you will not gain weight after one meal. As a side note, gaining weight is not a failure and will not make you less valuable as a person. Celebrating the holidays should be about being thankful and joyful and not about being fearful and stressed! I've worked through these thoughts and issues myself and I know that large buffets or meals can be anxiety inducing. Knowing that one day of over-indulging is not going to throw my body completely off track gives me the freedom to have a second plate, choose the larger piece of pie and even an extra cookie before bed.
With Thanksgiving being the first holiday up, let's look at some of the traditional foods found on the table a littler close. I want to give you a little extra motivation if you're still not convinced that eating these foods will be okay. Here are benefits of 5 foods commonly served at some holiday meals:
Turkey: The star of the show, turkey has a wide range of benefits. It is a lean meat that is packed with protein, about 24 grams per serving. It also contains vitamins B6 and B12, two important water-soluble vitamins needed for various metabolic functions. Selenium, a powerful antioxidant, is also found in turkey, as well as zinc, an important nutrient for immunity. You've probably heard that turkey (and all other meats) contains the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is needed to create serotonin, a hormone that regulates your mood.
Sweet Potatoes: Usually added to a Thanksgiving casserole, sweet potatoes contain two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Both fibers are highly beneficial to your gut health and can make your stools more regular. Orange sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, a pre-cursor to vitamin A, which is essential for your eye health and helps prevent night blindness. Vitamin A is also important for your immune system, and we all need a strong immune system these days.
Cranberry Sauce: Even though I find cranberry sauce to be a gooey and unappetizing side dish, I know that many people love it and will definitely be eating it on Thanksgiving. Cranberries are high in antioxidants, mostly vitamin C, which can fight off free radicals that may cause diseases. Cranberries also contain a unique phytonutrient, or plant nutrient, that can help prevent urinary tract infections by preventing E. coli from entering your bladder (sorry if that is TMI for a post about food!).
Pumpkin Pie: Another controversial dish, pumpkin pie contains, well, pumpkin. Similar to sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie contains the beta-carotene nutrient needed to produce vitamin A in your body. In addition to the functions of vitamin A introduced in the sweet potato section, this vitamin can keep your skin looking fresh and clear. Pumpkin also contains potassium which can improve your heart health by lowering your blood pressure.
Red Wine: Ahh, wine. A delicious drink that can literally make you feel warm and fuzzy all over. As you probably know, wine is made from grapes. Grape skins contain antioxidants, namely resveratrol. This antioxidant may help fight inflammation, improve your heart health, reduce your cancer risk and improve gut health. But don't forget to drink in moderation! Nobody wants to be that weird, drunk uncle!
So, there you have it, a quick holiday post. I know these holidays may not be everything we want them to be, but I hope we can all find a bit of peace somehow, someway this year. If you're worried about "eating too much" or "choosing the wrong foods" or "eating bad foods" this holiday season, I hope that now you are starting to re-think those worries. This year more than ever we should do our best to embrace the simpler things in life, like food and family. I truly hope you enjoy your holiday meals, snacks, and baked goods because the holidays only come once a year, and 2020 is the worst.
-Brittany
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