One of the most enjoyable activities this time of year is to make and share our favorite savory and sweet recipes at all the great gatherings and parties. It’s fun to get together, eat, drink and be merry!
  So, after giving some thought as to what recipe I might offer in this month’s column, what is something I can offer that is different from all the rest? Everyone has their favorite holiday recipes already and they are so easy to find this time of year. How about a recipe that is about food and requires some “cooking” but actually empowers you to make healthier choices when tons of those holiday goodies are around! Put this recipe into action and you will enjoy all those holiday treats guilt-free.

Plan Ahead
    Before you go to a gathering or party, think about how much you want to eat or drink. What has helped me in the past is to have a light snack or supper before I go. If I arrive really hungry to a party, chances are as soon as I’m done with the niceties of greeting the hosts and some of the guests, I will head straight for the food table and load up without thinking. It’s almost like going to the grocery store when you’re hungry.
    Your stomach can talk you into eating all kinds of things. Sometimes mine yells at me, “Eat everything you see in front of you right now!” And I’m happy to oblige particularly when I’m really hungry and haven’t planned ahead.

Focus
So you arrive at the party and you see all the decadent and delectable items arranged in a lovely display. You think to yourself, “I don’t get to eat goodies like this all the time!” In a matter of seconds, your well-intentioned plan goes out the door. Because it all looks so good!
  What then? Take a moment and focus on your plan. If you change your mind or the draw of the food is too great, then take a minute to really look at what is being offered. Focus on items you might not normally have at home or indulge in. Try a little of each of those items. You won’t feel like you’re denying yourself anything and you won’t over-indulge either.
Also, focus on the fact that this is but one party. It’s not the only party you’ll ever attend and it won’t be the last time you ever see such an attractive assortment of yum-yums. Thinking of it in this way really helps to put it into perspective.

Breathe
    So it might sound silly to suggest taking a deep breath before you head back to the food table for seconds. We usually save that for really stressful moments like when we’re angry or frustrated or just plain overwhelmed. But if you stop to think about it, it can really be helpful.
    As you take a deep breath, Ask yourself, “Am I still hungry?” “Do I really need that third or fourth drink?” If you’ve already eaten a little of everything like you planned, then you’re not really missing out on anything. Head over to talk to someone you haven’t seen in a while. Ask the host or hostess if you can help with some of the clean up. Or do something radical like introduce yourself to someone you don’t know. You might make a new business contact. You might make a new friend. Or you could even meet the person who could become your significant other.

Intention
   What is your intention when you attend the gathering? The word intention can also be defined as a purpose or goal. If your goal is to have a good time not think about how much you eat or drink, then go for it. I surely have done that myself and it’s fun to do that if you make the choice in advance. If you decide you would like to change the way you approach the buffet table this time around here’s a suggestion.
   Something I’ve learned from past experience is to keep my intention simple and positive. I have set myself up for failure when I tell myself,”I’m not going to eat or drink too much.” Instead what has worked well for me is to turn that into a specific and positive statement. “I intend to try a little of everything.” Or “I intend to have two drinks.” Then imagine how you’ll feel when you leave the party and you don’t feel stuffed and uncomfortable. Or you wake up the next morning without a hangover. You have achieved your goal. You can be proud of yourself and that sets you up for success at the next one.

If at first you don’t succeed…
    So what happens if you blow your plan and you overindulge? Before you start your guilt trip, stop. Give yourself credit for what you were able to change or accomplish. Even just realizing you’d like to make a change is an accomplishment. Then try again at the next party. Succeeding at even just part of your plan is still a success.

Enjoy the holidays and be good to yourself!

To learn more about eating with positive intention and what the Internal Energy Plus system can do to help you empower yourself to achieve your goals, sign up for our group at Yahoo: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/INTERNAL_ENERGY_PLUS/
Or check out my blog page at: http://lolakern.blogspot.com/