This Holiday Season, Do Just ONE Thing…
It is the week of Thanksgiving—how are you feeling? The holidays are full of fun and busy-ness, but they can also be the time when our wellness plans go right out the window. The holiday season used to be an all-or-nothing time for me – I either gave myself a ‘break’ from dieting and consumed anything in site OR I attempted to deprive myself with rules like, No Sugar, No Alcohol, No Starch, (No Fun)… etc.
I cannot do this to myself anymore because I’ve learned that neither one of these approaches works. Instead of the all-or-nothing approach at the holidays, I focus on DOING ONE THING every day that adds to my health in a positive and fun way. In the past years, it has been drinking a green smoothie everyday, other years it has been giving myself 5 minutes of quiet a day—I choose something that inspires and motivates me at the present moment.
This year, the one thing I am committing to is ramping up the intensity of my exercise by adding some hills, sprints and stairs to my walks. This way, I get more relief from stress and I also burn more calories, so I can indulge a little this holiday. (Bring on the gingerbread!)
By setting a goal that I will focus on just one thing, I make it easier on myself to stay well. And you know what happens when I focus on just one thing? Usually that one thing becomes two, three or four things I do to take care of myself, and during the holidays, that is a beautiful thing!
Speaking of gingerbread, here is one of my favorite holiday recipes:
Old Fashioned Gingerbread
1 cup dark molasses
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter or Earth Balance margarine
1 cup Sucanat or unrefined sugar, pulsed in food processor
1 large egg or for a vegan version, substitute 1/4 cup soy or rice milk mixed with 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed for the egg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
2 1/2 Tablespoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
Zest of one orange
Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, stir together molasses and boiling water; add baking soda and let cool till lukewarm. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar; and add egg or flaxseed mixture. Sift in all remaining ingredients to butter mixture. Add molasses mixture and stir well; batter will be thin. Place batter in greased cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until cakes tests done.
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Chef Jenny Brewer MS, CNS