by Dr. Mary Devereaux

During the holiday season we often find ourselves heading to parties rushing through traffic, starving, with our pre-ordered food platter in hand. On arrival we are often greeted with offers for sodas, casseroles, countless pasta dishes, cheeses, hot wings, frosted desserts and a plethora of “party food” options. These holiday temptations can lead to a state of post-consumption guilt leaving us full and a bit nauseated. What if we could take on the night with a high success rate and no overeating despairs? Here are some tips for a guilt-free morning after.

Before the Party

When bringing food to a party consider making something homemade. It only takes seven ingredients to make a basic cake. In contrast, a boxed cake mix can have as many as eighteen ingredients with six of them being artificial. Many dishes can be made ahead of time like salsas, hummus, dips, tapenades, salads, and pinwheels. Parties are full of “fun foods” that are not likely to meet our nutritional needs so prepare by drinking a vegetable broth before the party to get nutrients. Drinking a glass of water with 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar before a party can help food metabolize and stabilize insulin levels.

At the Party

With bodily nutrients met for the night before arriving, only fill your plate up halfway and take just a little of each food. A full plate is a commitment and can lead to overeating. Starting with smaller portions allows us to go back for what we enjoyed most. Be sure to eat pasta dishes and breads last as they can be very filling.

Leave the ice out of the drinks; The stomach functions best at about 110 degrees, so ice and cold can cause digestive havoc. Especially when eating, keep drinks at warm to cool. Choose soda water instead of tonics and colas loaded with sugar, add a lime or lemon to help with digestion. The extra sugar from sodas can cause digestive issues and insulin spikes, save the sugar for that special pumpkin pie.

Only eat homemade foods. Most people do not have ingredients on-hand like propylene glycol, butylated hydroxytoluene, high fructose corn syrup and brominated vegetable so it is safe to assume homemade dishes are healthier in that regard. If not sure, ask who made it. To not offend the chef, ask something like “This looks amazing, what is your recipe?”

After the Party

After the party take a 10-minute walk. Studies in numerous publications including Psychology Today and National Institute of Medicine, show walking after meals can help with blood sugar levels and digestion. Teas like Hawthorne berry and ginger also aid digestion. Choose foods that assist digestion like pineapple, mango, honey, avocados, and fermented foods like kimchee, kombucha, and sauerkraut. Food grade Diatomaceous Earth is good to have in your arsenal to help with digestion and upset bowels. If experiencing any reflux, sleep with the head elevated. The morning after a party, avoid juice, eat some protein, and have a mint, ginger or hawthorn tea.

Mary Devereaux, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, practices integrative medicine at OMNI Healthcare, Parrish Cancer Center Building in Titusville. For more information, call 321-802-5411.