The year-end holidays are a time to gather and celebrate with loved ones—and to enjoy rich, delicious foods. But for many people, these special meals come with anxiety and guilt. In a recent survey by Orlando Health, 39 percent of U.S. respondents reported worrying about how much they eat during the holidays. And a quarter agreed they should skip meals to “save” calories before a feast such as Thanksgiving dinner.
The messaging we absorb about health and the holidays—especially surrounding diets and weight loss—is often misguided, says Sara Riehm, a registered dietitian at Orlando Health. Riehm guides clients through a six-week lifestyle program to further their health goals. She sees firsthand how counterproductive our go-to ways of thinking about health and weight loss can be, particularly during the holidays. This time of year she spends a lot of time helping people build more effective and healthy ways of approaching situations where they’re surrounded by delicious foods that might not be the best for nourishing their bodies.
“It’s not necessarily restricting or cutting out all of those foods,” she says. “It’s creating a balance so that we still get to enjoy our holiday but also keep our health in mind.”
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Scientific American spoke with Riehm to learn more about how certain dieting misconceptions can harm us, what tips can help us navigate the holidays and what to do when New Year’s resolution time comes.
[An edited transcript of the conversation follows.]
Why do many people feel anxious about what they eat during the holidays?
I think a lot of people feel very uncertain and nervous because, in the past, holidays have included a lot of overindulging. I have a lot of clients who are trying to learn how to improve their health, but then when a special occasion like this comes along, they’re not really sure how to handle it because it’s a unique circumstance. And in particular, it’s a circumstance where you’re almost encouraged to be over the top and overindulge. It’s a time when a lot of people end up feeling out of control. But I personally love starting with clients around this time of year because I get to help teach them and walk them through this holiday…
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