Comments on: Surviving all the holiday food choices http://silverandgrace.com/surviving-all-the-holiday-food-choices Thu, 17 May 2012 16:43:10 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eliza http://silverandgrace.com/surviving-all-the-holiday-food-choices/comment-page-1#comment-529 Eliza Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:00:18 +0000 http://silverandgrace.com/?p=698#comment-529 @Patricia - this jumped out at me " I have found that enjoying food that has been carefully prepared for you is one of the many gifts people are able to give" I loved this. In our Dieting Society we have come to see food as bad. I have to admit, until I met Mr Very Right I just treated food as fuel with very little enjoyment. Now I have learned to savour food. Which, actually is an extremely healthy practice, because you are more mindful of what goes into your mouth. And as you point out, food is social. We love to host parties, and food takes centre stage, because it brings people together. Mr Very Right gets all the guests to participate, which brings everyone together as we laugh and create and nibble. Back to your statement, to truly savour food prepared by your hosts you are acknowledging their gift of time and creation. And savouring does not equal pigging out. On the contrary, it means slow deliberate bites of the items that intrigue you. @Patricia – this jumped out at me ” I have found that enjoying food that has been carefully prepared for you is one of the many gifts people are able to give” I loved this. In our Dieting Society we have come to see food as bad. I have to admit, until I met Mr Very Right I just treated food as fuel with very little enjoyment. Now I have learned to savour food. Which, actually is an extremely healthy practice, because you are more mindful of what goes into your mouth. And as you point out, food is social. We love to host parties, and food takes centre stage, because it brings people together. Mr Very Right gets all the guests to participate, which brings everyone together as we laugh and create and nibble.

Back to your statement, to truly savour food prepared by your hosts you are acknowledging their gift of time and creation. And savouring does not equal pigging out. On the contrary, it means slow deliberate bites of the items that intrigue you.

]]> By: Patricia http://silverandgrace.com/surviving-all-the-holiday-food-choices/comment-page-1#comment-527 Patricia Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:33:30 +0000 http://silverandgrace.com/?p=698#comment-527 I started several years ago preparing for the party scene by making a list of 10 - 20 questions to ask attendees and that might make the conversation better than just the weather and strained topics. One of my favorite questions is to ask," what was the favorite gift they ever received and why?" Folks are taken aback...and when you leave they are so happy that you were there.... I think this falls into the talk a lot suggestion I also have a taste of each food so that I can compliment the chef, the choice, the thoughtfulness. - It the feasts is all from the deli or big box store...well,then I eat nothing ....I drink only some wine, 2 neat scotches and 2 glasses of champagne a year...I drink sparkling water at occasions and many bar tenders have perfected making it look like a fancy drink for me..... I make public eating kind of a meditation practice....being prepared and practicing daily. Since I am quite heavy, I find that lots of folks watch what I eat....and one even guessed that I must have had a dozen donuts before I came to the event. I have found that enjoying food that has been carefully prepared for you is one of the many gifts people are able to give - I want to acknowledge that gift... Though I rarely gain any weight during the season, unless the weather is too hard on my exercise routine, I just try to focus on my healthy eating practice and making others feel appreciated. I did not start this practice because of weight issues...but because after my Ovarian Cancer experience most food fixed by others might make me end up in the bathroom being extremely ill....that would make the gathering a disaster experience for me... The biggest issue with my weight is my health desires and second...the modest amounts of embarrassment my children feel - I wish I did not look this way, because it bothers others....I would not qualify for the "biggest losers" and I think I look very good considering. Chemotherapy baldness was nothing compared to this! :) It is good to have a plan for sure. FYI, On the 24th I am posting a lovely greeting animation done by my IT, my little party on the blogosphere! and it has no calories! I started several years ago preparing for the party scene by making a list of 10 – 20 questions to ask attendees and that might make the conversation better than just the weather and strained topics. One of my favorite questions is to ask,” what was the favorite gift they ever received and why?” Folks are taken aback…and when you leave they are so happy that you were there….

I think this falls into the talk a lot suggestion

I also have a taste of each food so that I can compliment the chef, the choice, the thoughtfulness. – It the feasts is all from the deli or big box store…well,then I eat nothing ….I drink only some wine, 2 neat scotches and 2 glasses of champagne a year…I drink sparkling water at occasions and many bar tenders have perfected making it look like a fancy drink for me…..

I make public eating kind of a meditation practice….being prepared and practicing daily. Since I am quite heavy, I find that lots of folks watch what I eat….and one even guessed that I must have had a dozen donuts before I came to the event. I have found that enjoying food that has been carefully prepared for you is one of the many gifts people are able to give – I want to acknowledge that gift…

Though I rarely gain any weight during the season, unless the weather is too hard on my exercise routine, I just try to focus on my healthy eating practice and making others feel appreciated.

I did not start this practice because of weight issues…but because after my Ovarian Cancer experience most food fixed by others might make me end up in the bathroom being extremely ill….that would make the gathering a disaster experience for me…

The biggest issue with my weight is my health desires and second…the modest amounts of embarrassment my children feel – I wish I did not look this way, because it bothers others….I would not qualify for the “biggest losers” and I think I look very good considering. Chemotherapy baldness was nothing compared to this! :)

It is good to have a plan for sure.
FYI,
On the 24th I am posting a lovely greeting animation done by my IT, my little party on the blogosphere! and it has no calories!

]]> By: Eliza http://silverandgrace.com/surviving-all-the-holiday-food-choices/comment-page-1#comment-526 Eliza Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:11:01 +0000 http://silverandgrace.com/?p=698#comment-526 @Lori - oh, interesting about spice taming the taste buds. I'll keep that in mind. Oh my , eggnog! Bliss. I made eggnog on Sunday, but have been limiting myself to 1 glass per day. It's all done now, so won't make anymore. It's my once per year treat. @Lori – oh, interesting about spice taming the taste buds. I’ll keep that in mind. Oh my , eggnog! Bliss. I made eggnog on Sunday, but have been limiting myself to 1 glass per day. It’s all done now, so won’t make anymore. It’s my once per year treat.

]]> By: Eliza http://silverandgrace.com/surviving-all-the-holiday-food-choices/comment-page-1#comment-525 Eliza Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:09:50 +0000 http://silverandgrace.com/?p=698#comment-525 @Canadian Army Wife - okay, yes, that would put me off pot-lucks. Rather drastic measure, as you point out though :-) @Canadian Army Wife – okay, yes, that would put me off pot-lucks. Rather drastic measure, as you point out though :-)

]]> By: Lori Hoeck http://silverandgrace.com/surviving-all-the-holiday-food-choices/comment-page-1#comment-524 Lori Hoeck Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:22:55 +0000 http://silverandgrace.com/?p=698#comment-524 I go for veggies and spicy items first. Veggies fill me up; spicy (like peperoncini) tames the taste buds. Then I pick one or two dessert-type foods. At home, I limit eggnog intake to one pint for the three of us once a week. It is my usual downfall! I go for veggies and spicy items first. Veggies fill me up; spicy (like peperoncini) tames the taste buds. Then I pick one or two dessert-type foods.

At home, I limit eggnog intake to one pint for the three of us once a week. It is my usual downfall!

]]> By: Canadian Army Wife http://silverandgrace.com/surviving-all-the-holiday-food-choices/comment-page-1#comment-523 Canadian Army Wife Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:24:27 +0000 http://silverandgrace.com/?p=698#comment-523 I got food poisoning once from a pot-luck event. When I see all the holiday foods I remember how sick I was and I don't eat anything. I wouldn't recommend this method though. I got food poisoning once from a pot-luck event. When I see all the holiday foods I remember how sick I was and I don’t eat anything. I wouldn’t recommend this method though.

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