The holidays are the most fun time of the year, but how do you enjoy pumpkin pie, peppermint mocha hot chocolate, or your Aunt’s famous spinach artichoke dip while maintaining progress?! 

With so much temptation, it’s easy to feel like you’re either depriving yourself or overindulging. But what if there’s a way to enjoy the season without going to extremes…

Here are some strategies to help you navigate the holidays mindfully, without feeling restricted:

1. Adopt an Abundance Mindset

The abundance mindset is all about knowing that you can enjoy holiday treats—just not everything all at once. Instead of approaching the holidays with a mentality of “I can’t have this or that,” give yourself permission to enjoy what truly matters to you. Remember: it’s not about deprivation, it’s about choice!

When you shift your thinking from scarcity to abundance, it becomes easier to make mindful decisions. This can help reduce the urge to overindulge in response to festive food FOMO!

2. Identify Your “Worth It” Indulgences

“Worth it” indulgences are treats that align with your personal preferences, cravings, and bring you genuine satisfaction!  By focusing on these, you can enjoy what truly excites you and skip indulgences that don’t feel as rewarding. This approach connects the abundance mindset with practicing balance: “I can have anything, but I can’t have everything.” 

Not every holiday treat has to be a “worth it” indulgence. The key is to identify the ones that are meaningful to you. Is it pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream? Or maybe that special peppermint mocha hot chocolate you wait for all year? When you focus on indulgences that truly matter to you, you can enjoy them fully and guilt-free, while creating balanced, sustainable food choices that support lasting results.

3. Set Yourself Up for Success

Holiday meals and parties can lead to mindless snacking, but a few strategies can help you practice balanced:

• Snack with intention: Have a high protein, high fiber snack before heading to a holiday party. Protein is the most satiating macronutrient, so it will keep you fuller for longer. Fiber helps stabilize blood sugar to prevent energy crashes and sudden hunger spikes. Foods like nuts, veggies with hummus, and Koia protein shakes make it easier to make mindful decisions and enjoy mindful portions of your fave holiday treats.
• Hydrate first: Sometimes, thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Drinking a glass of water before you indulge can help you gauge how hungry you really are and help you feel more in control of your portions! 
• Plan your plate: When it’s time to enjoy the holiday feast, start by filling your plate with protein, fiber, and nutrient-dense foods. This will naturally displace indulgences, but still allow you to enjoy “worth it” indulgences in sensible portions.

4. Embrace Balance

The best part? No more food FOMO! With a little planning and a mindful approach, you can indulge without feeling overwhelmed or guilty! 

This holiday season, let’s shift the focus from restriction to balance. Enjoy the celebrations, savor the treats that are truly worth it, and set yourself up for success with smart, nutritious choices! 

Meet our Expert
This article is written by Hailey Gorski, RDN.

Hailey Gorski is a LA-based media Dietitian who specializes in sustainable fat loss. She empowers women to develop a healthy relationship with food while getting results. She graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelors in dietetics and certificate in entrepreneurship and complete her dietetic rotations at Loyola University Chicago! She has been featured in Livestrong.com, EatThisNotThat, BeachBody on Demand, and MyFitnessPal.com