The holidays are a fun time to gather with family and friends, eat some of your favorite foods, and go for a longer run when you have the day off.

But have you ever felt like you needed to “run off” that extra turkey or the cookies and cocktails from the night before?  If the holidays happen to be one of your most dreaded times because you tend to overeat and feel like you’ve gained a few pounds let’s talk about how to avoid feeling stuffed (and changing into your stretchy yoga pants after dinner).

Now, nothing wrong with yoga pants (you’ll find me in them most days)!  But the fact is, you probably want to feel comfortable in anything you wear to the dinner table. Me too.

Here’s some tips for feeling good about who you are and what you eat during the holidays.

Recognize what food means to you

Holiday food isn’t just holiday food. The words celebration, special treats, sweets, family favorites, comfort foods, oh, and dieting, are all part of what we tend to associate with “food” and “eating” during the holidays.  Do you eat to celebrate or to nourish your body? Do you bake for feelings of comfort and memories?  Could family favorites be swapped for healthy alternatives? Could tradition be upgraded?  Explore your beliefs around food and the holidays, asking yourself “why” once you answer. You may find there’s more to it than you thought.

Enjoy your favorites

When you show up at the holiday buffet table and think you need to try it all (otherwise you might offend Aunt Margie for not trying her casserole), think again. There may be dozens of delicious dishes to try, but here’s the thing: Eat your favorites. Eat what you enjoy. Be a food snob if you must. Don’t eat what you dislike, and don’t do it out obligation or guilt. That’s a good rule for the holiday table and life.

Don’t save up for the big meal

You may think it’s smart to eat nothing until the big meal when you indulge.  Sure it may help you feel hungry when you get there, and feel less stuffed as you hop from one party to the next, but you may also overeat because over hunger often leads to overeating. Try having a small snack of nuts and fruit, a cup of tea, or veggies and hummus before you go to spare the overindulgence.

Be present

When you sit down to eat with friends and family, it’s easy to get lost in conversation and forget about your plate. Be mindful and present as you eat. Chew your food – a lot and slowly. Put your fork down between bites – that turkey isn’t going to gobble away. Make it your goal to be the last one eating at the end of the meal. Eating slowly and being mindfully aware of when you feel full, is the key to not feeling like you need to change into yoga pants after dinner.

It’s not about the food

Conversation with family about their lives, chatting with your sister about her new job, and hearing your grandpa tell stories from when he was a kid, is really better than the sugar cookies and stuffing anyway. All of a sudden you may find dessert can wait, because you’re immersed in hearing about your grandma’s social outings, and you really don’t care about having another glass of wine because you’re having too much fun playing with your nieces and nephew.  Enjoy the moment for all it involves. There’s more to it than food.

I hope these tips for eating and enjoying the holidays help fuel your body, mind, and spirit.  In the comments below I’d love to read your wisdom!

What do you do to eat well during the holidays? Share in the comments below.