Stress eating — it can pile on the holiday pounds.  How can you avoid them?  Avoid stress.

Okay, that’s easier said than done — but, whether you realize it or not, you actually choose your level of holiday stress.  Maybe it’s worth it to you — in which case you’ll survive this year as you have other years in the past.  If it is getting to you, though, and robbing you of joy, it may be time to take a look at your priorities.

Do you really need to bake all those cookies?  It means time and expense, and, let’s face it, you will probably be eating a lot of them yourself.  Perhaps this is a tradition you can lose.  If you must bake cookies, get your kids or grandkids to help and make it a fun time, not something else added to an already busy schedule.  And send the cookies home with them so you won’t be tempted to eat them.   If  you have to bring cookies for a holiday party — buy them.  And send the leftovers home with someone else.

Tired of hunting for the perfect present for someone who already has everything?  How about a donation in their honor to a charity close to their hearts?  Your animal lover family member might appreciate a donation in his name to an animal rescue group — and your mission-minded loved one may be happy to have a gift to a Chinese orphanage rather than another tie.  It’s silly to keep looking for more stuff for folks who have too much stuff already.  Take the pressure off and start matching causes to people on your gift list.

And is your gift list too long?  It just may be that there are people you can drop — who would be happy to also drop your name from their too-long list.  A frank talk can relieve a lot of needless anxiety.  Perhaps some of the people — like siblings or co-workers– would be happy to have a name draw for gifts rather than buying for every single person. Chances are that if you are overwhelmed, other folks are, too.

But, what about the kids?  They expect gifts from grandma and grandpa (and often, aunts and uncles).  Those gifts tend to be buried in the pile on Christmas day.  Why not make an outing with the grandkids and take them Christmas shopping?  Let them pick out their gift, within pre-set price parameters.  They will enjoy an early gift that is their only gift that day far more than an extra toy on a day overflowing with stuff.

Take a good look at all the things you do that wear you out over the holidays.  What things are really important?  What will leave a big  hole if they aren’t there?  Do those things, but drop the things that really don’t matter.

You may find yourself dropping those extra stress snacks, too — and survive the holidays with your eating plan intact.

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown