Navigate the Holidays: Eating Anti Inflammatory Over the Holidays with Hypothyroidism
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The holiday season brings plenty of opportunities for parties, appetizers, decadent desserts, and cocktails. If you want to eat anti inflammatory over the holidays (like gluten free and dairy free) to support your thyroid, or hope to lose weight in the New Year, you can navigate the holidays with good choices TODAY that will support your goals next year!
I know it can be hard to pass up the ever-famous artichoke cheese dip, or the olive cheese balls (my favorite recipe at mom’s house!) And passing up the wine, beer, and cocktails? I know, it can be tough!
While it takes a little bit of planning ahead, eating anti inflammatory over the holidays is definitely worth it. Let’s take a look at why it’s a good choice for you, and how you can make it super easy!
What your holiday eating options look like
Just picture it. You walk into your mom’s house, and everything is decorated perfectly. Twinkling lights, candles, and the food from the kitchen smells delicious! You start making your way around the appetizer table, only to realize there are only a few things that will work for you to eat (not many gluten- or dairy-free options). You walk past the minibar, and decide to grab a sparkling soda instead.
At that moment, Uncle Frank comes around (and he’s probably four drinks in by this point). He nudges you with his elbow, and asks you why you’re not having a “real drink”, and why you’re only eating rabbit food.
Lucky for you, you’ve already anticipated what this situation might look like. You feel really good about why you are eating anti inflammatory over the holidays. So you brush off Uncle Frank’s snarky comment, and head to another room!
Why eat anti inflammatory over the holidays?
Knowing that this might be what your situation looks like over the holidays, here are three perfect reasons for eating anti inflammatory over the holidays. (Especially if you are trying to lose weight with hypothyroidism!)
- Energy booster! Let’s face it, the holiday season requires lots of energy. If you want to navigate the holidays without feeling exhausted, anti inflammatory foods are going to be your best bet. They’ll leave you feeling full and satisfied, without a sugar or carb crash later in the day.
- Anti Inflammatory Always. Anti inflammatory eating should be your standard diet with hypothyroidism. The anti inflammatory foods help guard against cravings, fatigue, and brain fog. Choosing these foods at holiday parties and gatherings will help you enjoy your time out, while nourishing your body and your brain. (Plus, without brain fog you’ll remember the names of new people you meet, like at your partner’s company party!)
3. Want to lose the hypothyroid weight in the new year? By starting with anti inflammatory foods over the holidays, you’ll have a HUGE head start in preparing your body to let go of some of that weight. Wouldn’t it be amazing to lose 2-3 lbs in the first week of the year? Navigate the holidays with anti inflammatory foods, and you’ll lose weight before the year is over! (And if you need a simple, straightforward plan to follow, I can help!)
4 Tips for Anti Inflammatory Holiday Eating with Hypothyroidism
Okay, so now you’re convinced that eating anti inflammatory over the holidays is a good idea. Yay! But, you’re probably wondering: how do I actually make that happen? Here are four actionable strategies for how you can navigate the holidays by making anti-inflammatory food choices.
- When you get to the appetizer table, fill up on all the fruits and veggies! Since charcuterie boards are common these days, there should be plenty of things that you can enjoy. Cucumbers, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, grapes, pears. You get the idea! Plus, when you fill your plate with fruits and veggies, you’ll be less tempted to make poor choices when the main dinner meal comes around.
- Pick gluten and dairy-free options whenever possible. Gluten and dairy are incredibly inflammatory, especially for those of us with hypothyroidism. So, steering clear will help you have lots of energy for the party or event, and won’t give you any brain fog. Not sure if an appetizer or dinner dish has gluten or dairy? Assume that it does. Stick with veggies, fruits, and proteins, and you should be good to go!
- Bring your own snacks! Maybe you aren’t sure what’s going to be served. Or, perhaps you know that your relatives are not the veggie loving kind. No worries, it’s okay to bring a small bag of cut veggies and fruits to enjoy. You can even bring some gluten-free crackers, or other anti-inflammatory snack bars and beef jerky. If you feel strange about this, call the hostess/host ahead of time to ask about the menu.
- Did you spy the decadent looking dessert table? Go for it! But, be sure to use the 3-Bite Rule! One bite is never enough. Two bites can be satisfying. But three bites feels overindulgent (even though it’s not). It can trick your brain into thinking that you got away with something naughty. Keep in mind that anti inflammatory also applies to desserts – be sure to choose gluten and dairy-free desserts.
Bonus tip to help you navigate the holidays
Bonus tip! Depending on the time of day for your holiday event, you can fill up with protein hot cocoa. Oooh, what’s that, you aks? With a mini frother, mix 2 cups hot water with one scoop of this vegan protein powder. Pour it into a festive travel mug (this one is my favorite!), and you’ll be on your way!
I typically drink this before I go to an event. The protein fills you up, and keeps you from noshing on the inflammatory appetizers. However, if you know that the evening will run long, and you’ll be tempted to have dessert, bring this with you instead. (You can grab hot water at your event). Drinking something hot, rich and chocolatey, you’ll fit right in with the rest of the party!
I also drink this when I’m shopping for gifts. I used to grab a venti peppermint mocha from Starbucks. But with the sugar and inflammatory ingredients, that drink is off the table. Add a drop or two of peppermint extract to your protein hot cocoa, and you’ll have energy for all of your shopping adventures!
Eating Anti Inflammatory Over the Holidays
I realize it may not be what you’re used to, but eating anti inflammatory over the holidays is one of the best ways to support your hypothyroidism. You’ll have plenty of energy, you won’t crave sweets, and you’ll be able to fully enjoy all of the events and parties! Plus, you can get a kick-start on weight loss, before the New Year’s resolutions even kick in!
Other resources you might enjoy:
10 foods to avoid with hypothyroidism
