For many of us, this is the time of year when finding a balance with food can be a challenge.
Sweets, desserts, drinks, and treats are plastered all over cooking shows, magazines, blogs, and grocery stores everywhere we turn. I think I even have a pair of holiday socks with cookies on them! It’s easy to start thinking that chocolate fudge makes the perfect daily breakfast staple or washing vitamins down with spiked cider is totally normal.
Well, some days I guess. I won’t judge.
But let’s be real for a minute. Sugar overload doesn’t make most of us feel our best on a day to day basis. I love sweets and indulgences as much as the next person (ok maybe more…), but I’ll be the first to admit that too much of it can leave me feeling tired, unmotivated, and blah. Over the years, I’ve realized that food and winter blahs can be closely related. When I eat crappy, I tend to feel crappy too.
Einstein said that insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” and I kind of live my life by that theory. When something doesn’t work, change it up! So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
[Did I really just quote Einstein in a food post?]
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be featuring 12 days of healthy meal recipes** that will hopefully inspire us to stay on a healthy path over the holiday season. That’s not to say that I won’t be indulging or posting a couple holiday sweet recipes (it is me you’re talking to!), but I also want to make more of an effort to fit in healthy meals whenever possible. Eric and I are both busy with work right now (he just started a new position and I’m wrapping up my cookbook proposal), so we need these healthy meals to stay at the top of our game. Plus, more healthy food means more room for Crazy Woman Chocolate Blender Pudding, of course.
**subject to change, based on how many casseroles I burn, how many gifts I have left to wrap, and how many cats I have to remove from the Christmas tree.
Such a great idea! I tend to fall prey to holiday sweets too often, this is a great way to stay on track!
What a great idea!
… we’ve already found the tree laying on its side.. grrr darn cats!! :P
I just wrote a post about this – if i eat like crap, I will feel like crap! It’s SO true.
PS – I like the Einstein quote haha.
This is a great idea. I feel exactly the same way!! Can’t wait to try your delish healthy dishes as you post ’em.
ps: what is it with Christmas trees that make cats answer the call of the wild??
I’m excited to see what you come up with.
I’m also making an effort to balance out the holiday food with healthy food and exercise – the same procedure as every year :)
Love this! Your recipes are always fantastic :D
Love the idea about 12 Healthy Dinner meals. I’ve been completely overloaded with sugar from all the holiday baking posts I’ve been writing and had to put myself on a raw vegan diet for the past 2 days to get back to my zen place! Of course, now I’m ready for more naughty treats!
The pudding looks too good!!
I love it! This is a refreshing stance on the holidays because all over the blogosphere, people are discussing how okay it is to indulge right now (and of course it is) but to see you making an effort to stay on a healthy path this season and sharing is inspiring. Thank you.
Hahahaha – the addendum of “**subject to change, based on how many casseroles I burn, how many gifts I have left to wrap, and how many cats I have to remove from the Christmas tree.” at the end made me crack up!! Looking forward to this!
Hahaha cats in the Christmas tree?! This is a great idea :D
Awesome- can’t wait to see your recipes as the days go by! I haven’t made one of yours yet that hasn’t been anything but stellar- and anything that I make that doesn’t rely on meat is always a bonus! :)
And I agree with Rhona above- it is very refreshing to find normal, healthy recipes amidst all of the sugar and butter.
Yay! Thank you! The sugar overload started this weekend and I am already feeling yuck (and am out of ideas for healthy dinners!). I’m looking forward to the ideas! PS- I made your eggnog biscotti the other day, and it was AMAZING. I am in love with a cookie.
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
I think we all appreciate this Ang. Thank YOU! It will come in handy this I know. It is all about balance and this is a good time of year to honor that. :)
I’m excited–I always love your recipes!!
Love your blog. You’ve inspired me to become vegan and I absolutely love the way I feel! Thanks for everyhing!
Yay! Love this, I was just thinking last night that I need to be focusing on eating good, healthy and nourishing food. I made your butternut squash burritos and they were so delicious! Thank you so much for all of your amazing recipes!
I didnt know that was Einstien who said that about insanity. I thought it was Dr. Phil. (kidding!)
But seriously, I agree!
And love the disclaimer re the burnt meals, cats climbing the tree, and gifts to wrap (please keep on using that same roll of paper you lovingly mentioned the last post!)
Love the idea and your sense of humor :)
It will be such a welcome change from the decadence going on around here from time to time. I think I might be getting a food processor soon so I can’t wait to try the pudding!!
i’ve been working on balance, too. i eat a filling, fresh kale salad for lunch every day to make sure i at least get SOME greens and vitamins in :)
Yay – this is exactly what is needed this time of year! My creativity gets sapped from other things and I have no energy to think of better dinners or new things to try out. Thanks Ang!