How To Have A Healthy Relationship With Food During The Holidays & Letting Go Of Guilt

Hello, my love. Welcome to the podcast all about self care, self love, inspo, and most importantly, becoming the best version of you. I am your host, Jayden Haley of the busy yet pretty podcast. I've been requested countless amount of time to do an episode on

food surrounding the holidays because sometimes we just you know our relationship with food is maybe a little off or with our body or how we view exercise and especially even if you don't it can feel kind of overwhelming when you know maybe you feel like you over ate during the holidays anything just food in the holidays can be a touchy topic so I think it's really important that we chat about this so I'm looking very forward to getting into this episode but first let's get into our weekly review

This week I went to Disneyland and not just Disneyland.

I went to Club 33 and if you don't know what that is, it's basically like an exclusive dining experience in Disneyland. I actually never heard of it until I was invited to this. But anyways, I went to Disneyland into Club 33 with Rare Beauty and I am just overwhelmed with joy. It was so fun. I love the Rare Beauty team and it's truly one of my favorite brands. So I'm just so, so grateful that I got to go. Another thing this week is I just have been

Watching Christmas movies that have come out on Netflix. They have a lot of hallmark movies on Netflix and I'm sorry I Even though they're not the best I am a hallmark movie lover during Christmas I feel like it just it's so nice to have on in the background while cleaning and just gives that even if it's tacky it gives that Christmas spirit So I love it lastly this week is I have just been trying to brainstorm ideas for my Thanksgiving dishes and

I feel like I always love to come prepared during the holidays with new dishes every time. I always love to show up with a comfort food but not just the comfort food but like a healthy comfort food. And of course, I cannot leave out the sweet treats. I love just bringing cookies and cakes and everything.

when going to the holidays, so very excited for that. Now into my current obsession. My current obsession at the moment is a Ralph Lauren Christmas. I think just deep reds and deep greens during Christmas. They're just so beautiful, classy, and timeless. I just recorded in an episode, the last episode, about just Christmas inspo. And if you need some inspo, go hop onto that episode.

But as I mentioned in the last episode, a Ralph Lauren Christmas is just so beautiful and kind of when I'm leaning towards this Christmas. Another current obsession at the moment is peppermint sweet treats. I love any cookies or bars that have peppermint and chocolate in them, so I just love a peppermint sweet treat. I think it's so good and truly just on the holiday spirit.

And lastly, this week is I have been loving heated workouts in the winter. There's something about being so cold outside, but then stepping into a heated Pilates class. It just feels so nice, so relaxing and gets you all warm and cozy while getting a sweat on. Now onto my goal of the week. My goal of the week right now is to get creative with Christmas gifts. I really would just want to think, what would this person like, but would not expect it? I, of course, always like to try to go off of

everyone's Christmas list when shopping. But I also like to, you know, give a little surprise because I personally love surprises. And I feel like it just meaningful when you go surprise someone with a gift that you truly feel that they would love. So I'm just going to try to get creative this Christmas. Another goal of the week right now is to master making Tai Chi at home. I've never made Tai Chi at home. So this is a beginning for me.

but I have been loving getting Thai tea. It definitely gives me the caffeine jitters, but it is honestly so worth it. I love the one I get from pop and bottle at Whole Foods. Truly so, so good. And I really recommend it. And lastly, my goal of the week is to try baking a new Christmas cookie. I am a Christmas cookie and dessert girl. And last year, I feel like I brought the best Christmas desserts. I cannot lie. I like, I'm trying not to toot my own horn.

I truly believe I brought some great Christmas desserts last Christmas and I really want to bring some new ones. So I want to see what you guys are going to be bringing for the holidays. So send me photos of what your plans are because I could easily use the baking inspo right now. Now onto what yourself love question. How are you going to be present during the holiday season? I love this question so much because sometimes we get caught up in work or distress and you know, stress about the holidays.

It's really good to remind yourself, how are you going to be present during the holidays? Now onto your affirmation. I am finishing the year off strong and motivated. I love that affirmation so much because again, we can get caught up with being stressed out and then getting slow and being unproductive.

Of course it's good to take time to be slow and move with the season of slowness. So that means getting cozy and doing things, you know, not as intense. But of course we still want to feel productive and do things that we want to do to feel motivated. So I really recommend affirming that to yourself. Now on to your challenge of the week. Pick a day and time to give back to someone else and others for the holidays. Or you can just do it whenever you don't have to schedule out of time.

But that could be you helping at a homeless shelter or maybe you see someone on the street and you want to go buy them food or you buy the person's food behind you. Or you get a bunch of flowers from Trader Joe and then give it to someone on the street. Do something to just bring that holiday spirit. I think it's so important to spread love when you have love in your life and you have fortune in your life.

and richness in your life. And remember, fortune and richness does not mean wealth only. It means more than just wealth. But when you have fortune and richness and love and happiness in your life, give back to others because it is just the right thing to do. And it also makes you feel good knowing that you just put a smile on someone else's face. Now to the podcast review. If you want to be featured on next week's episode, please feel free to leave a podcast review over Apple podcast.

This review is from Adriana and Adriana said, Jaden, you were truly a genius for creating an inspiration and motivational podcast. I'm amazed with your growth. And I know you're going to continue to grow tremendously. Stay safe and take care of yourself. Adriana, Adriana, this was just such a meaningful review. And I cannot tell you how grateful I am for you and all your support. I am so glad that you're enjoying the podcast and

Same to you, take care of yourself because you all deserve to love yourself and remember taking care of yourself is self-care. So I'm just so grateful. Now without further ado, let's get into today's episode. Just in time for Thanksgiving, let's talk about how to have a healthy relationship with food during the holidays. So Thanksgiving,

Hanukkah, Christmas, any holiday you celebrate, there's going to be food involved and usually it's kind of special to, you know, be with your family, need the food and have the dinners and everything. But at the same time, it can be overwhelming if you are someone who struggles with your relationship with food or your body or

you know, in general, you have some guilt after you eat. But let's chat about how to have a healthy relationship with food during the holidays and letting go of guilt. This has been highly requested, as I said, and I feel like regardless if you have or have had an eating disorder before in the past, or maybe you don't have the best relationship with food, we all sometimes can feel a bit guilty when it comes to food in the holidays. So it's super important to be honest with yourself and realize that

It is essential that you take care of yourself and nurture any feelings of restriction or shame of guilt around food during the holidays. When I had my eating disorder years ago, when I was younger, I remember how prominent food felt during the holidays, whether I was scared of how others would see me not eat a lot of the food, or getting an urge of

restriction or feeling like I don't deserve this food or overall maybe I'm just scared of the food. I remember having those feelings and to be now where I'm at years later having this peace of mind and just a quiet mind when it comes to food is so important and of course it takes lots of time to be able to change your mindset and to have a healthy relationship with food and let me just say I feel like everyone kind of gets doubts in their mind about food

throughout time. So it's not gonna be a perfect road up. So don't worry. But what I can say is there's things that you can think about

to temporarily smooth and soothe out those moments of feeling guilt or stress about food, to get some peace of mind and overall a quiet mind when it comes to food during the holidays. Let me start by saying the holidays are meant to be joyful, relaxing, and the best time of the year. And that's supposed to be time spent with your family and getting cozy. Not you spending and wasting your time just thinking and fretting about the food.

On a different note, during the holidays, we tend to eat more cozy foods and comfort foods and sweet treats than we usually would during other months where we're maybe eating our usual healthier meals. But we eat a little more, you know, comfort foods and sweet treats during the holidays because it's the holidays. There's sweet treats, there's comfort foods, and that's what it is. But let me let you in on some food for thought. No pun intended.

Our bodies sink with the seasons and during the colder months. So during the summer, our bodies are gonna digest raw foods better than in the winter where it's cold and chilly. So if you're thinking, oh gosh, I keep eating all these mashed potatoes and I keep eating all these sweet treats, I just need to eat a salad. Let me just reassure you right now that your body actually isn't gonna digest cold raw veggies as good as you would. Warm foods. Those warm foods may be being your comfort foods.

And when it comes to stress about food, your body will work against you when you're amped up and stressed out about food. Before I say this, I want to preface that your body is gorgeous. Any size you are throughout every many stages of our lives, our bodies are going to look different. So whatever stage your body is in and all stages, your body is beautiful and stunning. But if you're thinking you're very stressed out about your body changing from

how much you're gonna eat during the holidays or how much you ate during the holidays. You're scared your body is gonna change and look different. Let me reassure you that your body won't ever drastically change from enjoying your favorite foods during the holidays.

It cannot drastically change from enjoying the holiday food. But even if your body did, even if you did have a little shift in your weight or maybe visually the appearance of your body feels a little different, I want to let you know that you can always bounce back because did you forget you're not eating these foods every single day of your life. You're eating this way maybe during the holidays. You're not eating holiday feast and holiday food in a ray of treats and desserts.

daily 365 days a year. So you eating that way and enjoying it during the holidays is not going to change your body ever drastically. And not only that, your body will adjust and bounce back to the initial way you started at there is definitely times that I have felt, you know, less muscle, not a strong or extremely bloated because I've been eating different from traveling or whatever it is. And I'm like, Oh gosh, I feel so gross.

After a few workout classes and after getting back on routine, I begin feeling better again because I bounce back. There are times I will go weeks without not working out and I feel like I've lost my strength and my tone. But in a matter of workouts, I jump back to where I started. The same's gonna happen to you. So don't put pressure on yourself if you miss gym days or you miss your healthier meals. It's going to be okay, okay? Let your mind rest.

Just enjoy the holidays. Let your mind rest. And I know it's easier said than done. I've been there in that position, but I want to remind you that you're only here once and you need to enjoy everything because here's the thing. This time right now, right now, this moment will never come back again. You will never relive this same day again. Your days are precious.

And it's crazy, like, of course, you don't want to feel scarce with your life. You want to live to the fullest and not feel scared to die or scared to not get everything in your life. But you want to think to yourself with the way you're treating yourself and thinking, are you living life or are you just alive? Because when you are allowing negative thoughts and thoughts about food and stress to eat you up,

You're not living. You're not enjoying life. You're just alive. You want to live and enjoy. This is your life, not anyone else's.

When you are on your deathbed, you're not gonna be thinking about what you looked like on Christmas of 2024. You're not gonna think about how skinny you looked back then. You're not gonna think about how much you weighed at that time. You're going to thinking about all the beautiful memories of you baking cookies with your loved ones and eating them by the fireplace. If you have food during the holidays on a plate, if you have a roof over your head, you are lucky. You are so lucky and fortunate to be able to enjoy food.

There are some people who, their way of eating, they can only eat through a feeding tube, and they can't even enjoy and taste

exciting holiday food. Same with people that may not be able to afford having food on their plate. They can't get food, any food at all on their plate, especially during the holidays. Like, think about this. You have a luxury. Food is a luxury. Being able to enjoy and be with your family and enjoy food. Being able to have meals on your plate

is a luxury. It's not something to be stressed out about. Life is too short to put vanity or sanity on a pedestal. And of course, eating disorders and bad relationships with food are not just vanity, of course. I want to say that. But sometimes we will see ourselves bloat after we eat, especially after we eat holiday foods. We'll feel bloated sometimes.

heavy while I just feel like sluggish, but I'm here to tell you that bloating is temporary. I feel like I'm like the bloat master at this point because I've suffered chronic bloating for many years and still to this day sometimes get those flare-ups.

But let me just remind you that it is temporary. It will go down when you're feeling bloated or overly stuffed. Go get on a comfy t-shirt or your comfy cute PJs and just feel comfortable. Don't keep looking at yourself in the mirror, trying to measure your stomach and looking at yourself thinking, I need to work out extra now that I need you this much. No, you don't.

Okay, you are so lucky that you're able to feed yourself and nourish yourself. And it is beautiful that you got to create those memories of eating all these holiday foods. And if you are someone who struggles with bloating, you can even carry bloating supplements on hand to help ease discomfort and bloating. I mean, I always do in my purse. My favorite ones I have on my Amazon storefront, they're the array ones. They're all natural, which I like.

But there are many different bloating supplements that you can get if you do get discomfort with bloating, especially during the holidays. But again, understand that bloating is temporary. But imagine passing up the opportunity to bake with your mom and watch a Christmas movie while you eat your yummy desserts together. Imagine during the holidays, you're just looking at the table of food and not listening to your desire to eat it. Imagine not giving yourself the care it needs.

As I always preach, self-care, self-care this, self-care that. But like I always say, self-care looks different in many ways, and respecting your body by listening to your cravings is one of them. Nourishing your body with the food that you enjoy is self-care. It is as important and even more than doing a face mask or getting your nails done. Plus, when you eat food in general,

But especially during the holidays, you don't need to eat things only that have nutritional value. Sometimes we may eat some food or a lot of food that doesn't have much nutritional value. And you think, gosh, I literally, I'm not eating healthy at all. I don't have any nutrients even in me. First of all, yes, you are. You're still nourishing yourself.

And not only that, you're feeding your soul and feeding your soul is just as important as nutrients. And if you're thinking to yourself, but Jayden, I cannot help to restrict and my mind will go quiet. I'm so stressed out about the food during the holidays. I want you to practice being present because being presence can allow you to calm your mind and dial into the present moment.

I want you to try eating without scrolling on TikTok and take time to plate your food on a pretty aesthetic plate that makes you excited to eat, sit down, light a candle, and make it an enjoyable experience for you. And remember, by you eating, you're honoring yourself and giving yourself self-care by listening to your cravings.

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So once you're all cozy in your Christmas pajamas, the candles lit, your pretty plate is plated with food. Put on a Christmas movie and enjoy. Food is not after you or against you. Food is your friend and food is a way to connect with others. Food is a way to enjoy and experience. I want you to give yourself grace and remember when you eat and when you begin to get anxious while you're eating, that you are safe and you are okay.

stop labeling foods as good or bad foods in your mind. And instead let that thought go and just really be mindful of not overthinking and just doing and enjoying. The holidays are meant to be spent time connecting with others, your loved ones, baking, caroling, and of course enjoying your favorite cozy comfort foods. I love you so so much and I really hope you enjoyed this episode. As much as I did recording it, I feel like this is a topic that

is not talked about enough and it's something that we should really talk about because it is just, you know, something that is a universal problem. A lot of people struggle with food during the holidays and it's good to be honest with yourself and know how to calm yourself down and have those little techniques to think of when you begin feeling anxious around food during the holidays. Please, please, please give this rating a five star and share this over your Instagram story or share this to a friend to maybe struggling with the same thing. You know, it's something that, again,

We all need to talk about to one another. And it's something not to be shameful about many of us, all ages, all genders, feel some way to type about food sometimes during the holidays. And it's really good to just be honest with yourself. So anyways, I love you guys so much. Happy holidays, have a great Thanksgiving. Let me see your yummy holiday Thanksgiving food and send me a photo because I want to see all the gorgeous food. And I love you guys so much.

and do not forget to stay. I got busy yet pretty.