At sundown today, Rosh Hashanah begins; Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year (do not click away if you aren’t Jewish, if you celebrate any holidays or attend any group food events, read on). Many Rosh Hashanah foods are sweet as they signify the hope for a sweet New Year. This is a lovely tradition but a challenge from a food perspective. There have been countless articles written about holiday eating and the calories in holiday foods. To me, the often overlooked aspects of holiday eating are the extra time spent with family (glass of wine for me please), the travel involved in getting to wherever you are going and associations with traditional, special and often home-cooked food.
It’s more about the dynamics at work than the food itself. Here are some of the potential pitfalls, see if they strike a chord.
Problem: The Food Pusher, I tend to think every family has one. Food pushers have been known to ask, “is that all you’re eating?” or “how come you didn’t try the potatoes?” or worst of all food pushers plate the food for you.
Solution: There are several strategies to handle a food pusher. My first thought is that the food pusher often wants you to try things but doesn’t necessarily mind if you don’t finish them. So put the kugel or cake on your plate and only eat what you wish to.
The second, more aggressive route is to be honest and polite but push back “it’s so delicious but I think I’ve had enough.” It’s always good to throw in a compliment while refusing food.
Problem: Slim (healthy) Pickins – It’s hard to believe in 2011 someone can compose a menu with zero regard for health but it happens and happens a lot for holiday meals. Even my mother uses by grandmothers stick-of-butter recipes and justifies it as “traditional.”
Solution: Help green the menu. By this, I don’t mean green as in better for the environment, I mean literally green. Many holiday menus lack clean vegetable options so offer to bring something. Yes, there may be an ounce of selfishness here but say “can I bring a beautiful crudité and dip?” Or, “I saw a great Brussels sprouts recipe.” Even if the host declines your offer it may send a message that potatoes shouldn’t be the only vegetable on the table.
Problem: Gymlessness-you’re away from home, at your parents or in-laws far away from your usual gym or spin class.
Solution: Don’t be an exercise snob. Bring your sneakers and even if it’s cold or not as good a workout, commit to walking the day of the holiday AND the day after. Throw in some crunches and push-ups and you may have burned off those potatoes.
Problem: ProcrastinEATING. ProcrastinEATING happens when you feel as if you had a large, holiday meal and that you’ve blown it as far as your food plan goes. The procrastineater says “on Monday I will be good.” Or, “when I get home I will get back on track.”
Solution: nip it in the bud. It’s often not the holiday meals that do people in. It’s the leftovers and couple of days following the meal and the towel getting thrown in. If you are off track regroup at the next meal and plan your food for the day following Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving or Christmas etc. It’s not just about the holiday meal.
Aside from potential pitfalls, there are so many interesting food traditions tied to holidays. For Rosh Hashanah there is the notion of “new fruit”. This is a fruit that is recently in season; pomegranate is commonly used. There is a blessing that’s said. The implication is to be grateful for the fruits of the earth and the opportunity to enjoy them. Religion aside, this is something we can all do.
What do you find to be the biggest challenges with holiday eating? Have you ever been a procrastineater? What “new fruits” have you been enjoying?
It really annoys me when people ask "is that all your eating"…!
I really don't care what people put on their plate!
Aside from the little annoyances I do love holiday eating and food traditions!!!
Oh man, the holidays are near!! Scary. We definitely have a food pusher in our family (and a drink pusher too, "Gina, don't you want a glass of wine with your meal?? Come one!") Ugh. I think my biggest problem during the holidays is that when I eat the wrong foods (aka, onion, garlic, lots of wheat) my body doesn't absorb nutrients and then I get in a funk and it's a viscious cycle. This year I'm going to try REALLY hard to stick to my IBS diet, so that FUNK doesn't happen!! And, working out when it's really dark in the morning…it's tough.
Great tips! I hate having food pushed on me, I always come off sounding like a b* when I reject it. I am definitely a procrastinEATER – or have been, I hope not to be this year! And even though I make healthy versions of things, having tons of foods around that you typically don't have around, can be rather tempting and lead to the Procrastineating!
Lisa, food pushing is brutal but having a planned answer you always go to is helpful so you don't feel on the spot. Cameo I can be rude too have have said "it's really plenty" when questioned about my food. Gina, I agree when the "off'foods come in it can send you on a difficult tangent.
These are such awesome tips! My MIL comes from a culture of food-pushers. I don't eat a lot at one meal, I break my meals up throughout the day, therefore, every time I eat at her house I feel like she tries to literally shove food down my throat because 'I don't eat enough'. It's been even worse while I've been pregnant! I love the idea of offering to bring something … at least then you know there is one thing you won't feel guilty about eating 😉
I also think though that partaking in family favorites is guilt-free as long as you exercise portion control. If Christmas is the one time a year I am going to get my mom's party potatoes you bet your booty I am going to have some … I just won't eat the whole tray 🙂
I'm all for special holiday foods and portioning is a great strategy, what goes in "party potatoes"? I'm so intrigued. That's a hard name to turn down.
I'm bad about two of them, food pushers and procrastineating. Procrastineating is worse for me around holidays. The main food pushers in my life are at the office, not so much in the family.
ProcrastinEating = brilliant. Food bullies drive me nuts — weirdly mine are most active at the end of meals and try to force taking home food. Actually a great idea if having people over at your place. My biggest holiday problem is having the pleasure (oy) of making multiple stops. Can feel like endless eating, so I try to get a say in menu planning. I love getting out for a run on holiday mornings, really helps me be more mindful with food.
Office food pushers are an interesting group, can be hard not to join in the group "fun". Multiple stops is a hard one Carolyn but you can use the "we've made a lot of visits" to your advantage.
Food pushers are the worst, espeically when each person brings something they EACH made and everyone expects you to try everything! And I hate wasting, so it's hard to skirt the line between sampling foods, but not wasting them.
oh see Nat I don't have the wasting food conflict. If someone pushes me to try something I don't want, they can't push me to finish it.
Although we celebrate the holidays we live far (across the country far) from our families so we tend to stick close to home. As a result, we don't have to face food pushers often. And when we do visit friends they are usually of the same mindset as us when it comes to food so there are always healthy options. The one downfall is at work. It seems like EVERYONE wants to bring us treats for the holidays and the break table is over-flowing with sugar. I'm usually pretty good at avoiding it but always allow myself to sample the goodies that catch my eye on the day before the office closes for the break.
Growing up was a different story – I was always in charge of the 'treat tray' and took it as an opportunity to sample everything before it made it on the tray 🙂
Interesting Jenny it seems lots of commenters today are more troubled or tempted at work. I guess if breaks are taken around a "break table" it can get dicey.
These are amazing tips! Yes, I have a few family members (and friends) who are food pushers.
I have definitely suffered from procrastineating. I think I still maintain a good balance, but the desserts are usually what does me in.
great tips he eh the food pusher is funny, happy new year Lauren
I can honestly say there are no "food pushers" in my family which is a good thing 🙂 Of all the holiday pitfalls, gymlessness {You have coined a new word Lauren!} is the one I'm probably guilty of. Like the "new fruit" tradition at Rosh Hashanah!
I like your tips. Offering to bring a dish is a great solution when you know there won't be many healthy options, and I always do that. My MIL is a major food pusher (probably partially linked to her Korean upbringing and personal history), and it took us years to come to some sort of an "agreement"… She still hasn't stopped pushing food on the toddler though (despite our protests), but he is learning to stand up for himself! 🙂
The holidays can be such a wonderful time to spend with family and celebrate old traditions (which we should try hard not preserve). And, as you point out, with a bit of planning and consciousness, they don't have to be an unhealthy disaster…
EA gymlessness can deter many hard core exercisers but moving over the holidays. Andrea- I am particularly annoyed by food pushing to kids. After all, kids have the best innate sense of satiety. Holidays don't have to be unhealthy and they don't have to be feared from a food standpoint either.
Excellent points.. I liked the point about the Procrastineating; I make those excuses all the time!!
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Fantastic tips! I can't believe we're about to enter months of Holiday Season. With your tips, instead of fearing the temptations and frustrations ahead, we can be well armed with a tool bag. Thanks!