December 2019

How to Survive a
Holiday Party
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.
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December 2019
15