My conversations with clients lately have included quite a few, “Jen, I have been so bad.  I had one cookie and have not been able to stop!  I will start over when the holidays are done.”

Sound familiar?

I am all for savoring a good gluten free, homemade Christmas cookie baked with love and in celebration of this season.  Does it mean we ditch honoring what our body needs to function and feel its very best for an entire month so our energy crashes, our immune system tanks, our sleep is broken and we are barely crawling our way into 2022?  Nah, that is “all or nothing” thinking and those of us living intentional lives can do better than that.

Intentional healthy living means we know what makes our bodies function and feel its very best.  We feed them well, body, mind and spirit and leave some room for margin like that cookie or a glass of wine if that is your thing.  We are informed as to how those indulgences make us feel and what we need to counter them.  For instance, if I have sugar or wine I do not sleep as well.  I know that about myself so I am very mindful how much and when I choose to indulge.  A weekend when I can sleep in or take a nap might be a time when I intentionally choose to indulge and then I savor every bite or sip with no guilt knowing I will give my body some extra TLC the next day.  A party that I know will go really late means I hydrate and fuel well beforehand and take a cat nap so I am not going into it open to taking a whack at my immune system as sugar and lack of sleep can tank our immunity.

How can you step away from the holiday “screw it” all or nothing mentality over these next few weeks and mindfully and intentionally enjoy the extras while honoring your body?  Plan for that then follow thru.  Make your choices intentionally and move forward without guilt.

If you are craving a cozy cup of chocolatey warmth, hot cacao is one of my winter favorites.  Here is my healthified version of my childhood hot cocoa that came out of a packet with those dried little marshmallows.

Healthy Hot Cacao

  • 2 cups of almond or coconut milk (I like to do half water and half full fat coconut milk out of a can for extra creaminess)
  • 2 tbsp organic cacao (cacao is healthier and richer in flavor than cocoa but you can certainly use cocoa as well)
  • 1/2 vanilla
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 1/2 tbsp MCT or coconut oil (this not only adds some healthy fat but helps emulsify the cacao powder)
  • 1 tbsp honey, raw maple syrup, coconut sugar or a few drops of liquid stevia

Mix ingredients together in a pan on the stove over medium heat whisking as you you until warm and blending.  Add a drop of peppermint oil if you want a pepperminty treat!

Have a wonderful weekend filled with intentional celebrations!