Weathering winter: Strategies for coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder
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The holiday season is a wonderful time to enjoy your favourite dishes while celebrating with loved ones. It can also be a challenging time to navigate feelings of guilt along with well-meaning, yet often unwelcome comments from family and friends about diet and body image.
Finding a balance between enjoying festive occasions and maintaining a healthy relationship with food is important to your health and well-being this holiday season.
Cayla Olynyk, a registered dietitian with Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network, recommends enjoying holiday meals by slowing down and appreciating the connection food can bring with your loved ones. Allow yourself to enjoy the variety of flavours and appreciate the cultural and social significance of the holiday season without guilt.
Establish healthy boundaries with family and friends by communicating that conversations related to body and diet make you uncomfortable. Try to shift the conversation to a more positive topic like the latest book you’ve read or an upcoming vacation.
Listen to your hunger and fullness cues. Instead of following strict diet rules, focus on nourishing your body with foods that bring you joy and make you feel satisfied. Avoid an all-or-nothing approach, which can lead to binge eating or restrictive dieting.
Olynyk stresses the importance of reminding ourselves that “a well-nourished and cared for body comes in many shapes and sizes.” Practice self-compassion by shifting your focus from perceived imperfections to appreciating what your body can do. Try to engage in activities that make your body feel healthy and strong.
The Calgary Foothills Primary Care Network offers a variety of support including our free Ask a Dietitian workshop available both online and in-person. We also offer one-on-one appointments with a registered dietitian to discuss your health concerns. Appointments can be made online, through a family doctor referral or by calling our program coordinator at 1-855-79-CFPCN (23726) or 587-774-9736.