Happy Healthy Holidays!

I am not going to start this entry by stating the obvious; exercise daily, eat right, be one with your body, listen to what your mind is telling you, do yoga, floss. Instead, I am going to remind you that there is a reason the old saying goes "HAPPY HOLIDAYS". During this holiday season; celebrate, dance, give, take deep and meaningful breaths, savour the moments, hydrate, pray to and for whomever, and please enjoy eating. I am giving you permission to have that second glass of eggnog, try the tasty appetizer that your friend baked or eat your mom's yummy homemade stuffing and BE HAPPY doing so. Practice my personal favourite mantra "everything in moderation". Take pleasure in the holiday spirit and show your happiness. Don't eat for the sake of eating, instead, use all of your senses to heighten the eating experience. Smell the wonderful flavours, look at the presentation, feel the textures on your tongue and follow the 40-chew rule in order to savour every mouthful. Think about the tender love and care that went into making the holiday treat. If you a person that needs hard statistics, rather than just indulging in the pure joy of eating, The Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, found that a less acute sense of taste leads to over consumption of foods rich in sugar salt and fat. There will be more about taste enhancers in next weeks entry. Until then, HAPPY HOLIDAYS and ENJOY yourself because after all, happiness is a choice.