The emotional intensity of mindful eating at the holidays

There is a scene in How the Grinch Stole Christmas where the Grinch is named the Cheermeister of the Whoville Whobilation. As Cheermeister, he is required to judge all the holiday treats and the Whos feed him all the cheesecakes, pudding, cookies, and cakes. I’m not sure about you, but when the holidays come around I start feeling like the Cheermeister. I indulge in all the goodies — knowing they won’t be around again for another year. 

Then comes the guilt... “ugh, maybe I shouldn’t have had that extra cookie.” Then the promising, “I will go to the gym three times this week!” or “It’s a juice cleanse for me next week.” I know I’m not alone in this. I’m also not a health expert, nor am I qualified to give eating advice to anyone, but something tells me these negative feelings aren’t the best ways to approach food. So, being the researcher I am, I looked into it. Turns out, with some reflection, we can pause and enjoy this delicious food on a deeper level by eating mindfully. 

what is mindful eating?

Fundamentally, mindful eating is eating slowly and without distraction: savor and enjoy. It’s not shoveling in fast food mindlessly as we drive down the road from one stop to another. But, let’s face it, food from Chik-fil-a is a lifesaver some days, and those biscuits can be perfection.

Mindful eating is also listening to your physical hunger and eating only until you're feeling full or satisfied. Now, when it comes to cookies, I think we’d all agree we’re not about eating until we’re full. We’re about the cookies. But this time of year is a wonderful chance to really enjoy those sweet treats — or brownies or piece of pie or gravy or braised lamb shank. 

To me, mindful eating is about the feelings that flood my mind and senses as my holidays are filled with family, friends, and memories. Proust is famous for the memories flooding in from a tea cake.

I look forward to my Dad’s (passed down from his mother) latkes with sour cream. In the past, I’d go in with a limit to how many I can eat. And every year I eat more than my pre-determined limit. Instead of quantity, maybe I should consider the quality of the experience.

To become mindful eater one should also acknowledge that there is no right or wrong way to eat, and gain an awareness of how you can make choices that support health and well-being. And sometimes mental well-being is the perfect joy that comes from eating a wonderful meal you’re truly engaged with — no matter who prepared it.

For me, the comfort of a latke isn’t just in the starchy potato pancake, the buttery oil, and tangy sour cream. It’s also in watching my dad prepare them for his family and the stories he shares. Instead of quantifying the dish (number of calories, number of carbs, number of...), what if we reframe the experience into a more mindful occasion that is savored and shared? I hope these thoughts spark moments of self-reflection and encourage you to explore the ways in which you find meaning during this decadent season of celebration. 

We acknowledge that some of us have difficult histories with food and eating, and these feast days are really hard. And that many of us will feel lonely this holiday season without family and friends nearby. We see you, and we hear you, and we hope you can find peace and joy in the season. And if peace and joy come in the shape of a candy cane: so be it. If instead, you need a minute away from the buffet, we’re mindful of how cheering that can be as well. 

Cheers to a season of meaning-making... and, for many of you, baking.