How Dr. Klodas Survives the Holidays

I don’t know about you, but Thanksgiving sort of snuck up on me this year. So I’m taking a little time out from my regular blog schedule to reflect upon the upcoming season and the gratitude I have for all my blessings. 

(For those of you who were hoping to see Part 2 of the glucose metabolism dysregulation series, fear not. We will continue with those blogs in December.)

I’m always a bit under the microscope during the Holidays. “Will she pile on the mashed potatoes?” “Does she actually eat dessert??” There are some definite disadvantages to being a cardiologist who started a healthy food company! 

But here’s the truth. Yes. I will have the mashed potatoes. And yes, I do actually eat dessert. And turkey. And ham. And stuffing. And gravy. I try not to overdo it, but even when I do, I won’t beat myself up about it.

Perfection is exhausting. And, in my mind, punitive. So, I try to stick to the advice I often give my patients: It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being better. When it comes to food this time of year, my only goal is to try and be better.

Food is not just calories, macronutrients and health effects. It’s also tradition. And love. And comfort. And childhood memories. And taste. And what binds families and friends together. And, frankly, I’m not just going to give all that up, sit in the corner by myself on Thanksgiving Day, and stubbornly confine myself to the veggie tray! 

What I am going to do is:

Slow down. I’m going to take in the moment and appreciate the joy of spending this special time with others. I’m also going to pace myself. Eating more slowly has been shown to increase food enjoyment while helping us naturally eat less.

Be strategic. I’m going to only eat the foods I truly love or want to try, and skip the items that I can live without. Sorry King’s Hawaiian! I’m also going to favor items that are more health-promoting and leverage the fact that there’s only so much room on my plate. So, more salad and vegetables (from that veggie tray!) equals less room for stuffing, ham and mashed potatoes. Though I will ABSOLUTELY still have those potatoes, ham and stuffing! Just in smaller amounts, by design. 

Keep moving. Holidays are stressful and calorie dense. And physical activity is a great way to burn calories and de-stress. Win-win. Besides, at this point, for me physical activity is as routine as brushing my teeth. I’m not planning on pausing my dental routine anytime soon. Why would I pause exercise? 

Accept. Finally, I’m going to accept the fact that I might be poorly paced, less strategic and more sloth-like on Thanksgiving Day. And that’s OK. Because come Black Friday, I plan to be back to my usual me. 

Health is not built in a day. It’s also not destroyed in a day. It’s the overall pattern that matters. Enjoy your Thanksgiving! I’ll be right there with you!