It’s OK to Eat That Pie!

I’ll bet you’re surprised by that title, huh?

It really does mean that you allow yourself whatever treat you enjoy over the Holidays, just not every day for every meal…

I have always loved pumpkin pie, but for several years I have been cow dairy free, and more recently, gluten free as well. BUT I still get to eat my pumpkin pie! I have found a frozen pie crust from Maine Pie Co. that’s G/F and delicious. When I make a pie to bring to events, no one knows it’s G/F!

My filling is made with evaporated coconut milk instead of cow’s milk. Some people don’t care for coconut milk in recipes, but I LOVE it!

I also freeze what’s left of the pie right away so that I don’t keep eating it every day. Then a month or so later when I really want a treat, I can take it out, cut another piece and put it back in the freezer to enjoy another day! Pumpkin pie thaws pretty quickly on the counter, or in seconds in the microwave.

What is your favorite holiday treat? Is it a healthy one or an old-fashioned sugary treat? Most of my mother’s recipes include more sugar than I like to use these days.

I know how difficult it is to avoid the “Holiday 5,” especially after 50. This is not an easy time for anyone who is trying to lose weight. BUT what if you simply did your best and vowed not to stress about a few extra pounds because you’ll make an extra effort to lose them after the holidays? It’s a good plan, and a way to enjoy your favorite holiday foods more fully. When we take the time to savor our food, to enjoy it fully, it makes it easier to have only one piece of pie, or cake, or Italian cookie!

You can start today by planning when and where you’ll allow yourself to enjoy your treat without feeling guilty, write it up, and then stick to your plan. You’ll be glad that you did.

Another thing you could do is start a new family tradition of taking a walk together after a big holiday meal. For years my sister in Virginia hosted Thanksgiving and we always went for a walk after the meal. It wasn’t a brisk walk, but we were moving nonetheless. And we enjoyed checking out the new or newly renovated homes in her neighborhood. It made for a pleasant after dinner tradition.

Another idea is to have everyone join you in completing my 5-minute exercise series. 5-minute exercise series It’s fun, and can be aerobic if you’ve not worked out in a while. Kids LOVE doing this with the grownups, so get the whole family involved!

Enjoy!

Best of Health,

Kathi