FAQs
Who is this guide for?
Healing Through the Holidays is meant for anyone and everyone! The foods chosen in this guide are truly meant to help support the body with nutrient rich foods that are easy to digest, metabolically supportive and also taste holiday-season-good!
What if I can’t do dairy right now?
As a nutritional therapy practitioner I try to focus on keeping as much food in the body as possible. With that said, if you are unable to digest diary or have an allergy, then I have provide alternatives like coconut milk options instead that can be a good substitute.
Is this allergy friendly?
No this meal plan is not allergy friendly it includes gluten (sourdough), dairy, eggs, meat/ fish However, I do suggest gluten free options for many of the recipes and I don’t recommend nuts/seeds.
Are these plans family/ kid friendly?
Yes! The recipes included in this guide are recipes I feed myself and my family.
Are these recipes safe if you are breastfeeding/ pregnant/ autoimmune condition?
It is always best to check with your health care team, however they are meant to be safe for all of the above.
What does metabolically supportive recipe mean?
When I talk about a metabolically supportive diet, what I am really saying is focusing in nutrient dense foods and lifestyle choices (like blood sugar management and stress) that support the metabolic system as a whole. The metabolic system or metabolism plays a role in your digestive system, thyroid function, hormones and more. When we focus on foods that are anti-inflammatory, easy to digest and meet our vitamin and mineral needs our metabolic system as a whole begins to work more optimally! Thus, we feel better! The recipes exclude things like nuts and seeds as many of us have a hard time digesting these foods in general. Similarly I include more root vegetables and less cruciferous vegetables as again, these can be harder to digest. The oils and fats I use are more saturated fats which are largely composed of animal fats. Some examples are, beef tallow, ghee, butter and even coconut oil to name a few that you see in my recipes. Structurally, they have no double bonds between carbon molecules because they are saturated with hydrogen molecules. Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature. Thus, don't go rancid in the body and provide the body with high quality fats that make up the backbone to our sex hormones, bile (which breaks down fat) and every cell in our body. Where as the vegetable oils or hydrogenated oils ( I call these PUFAs) are less stable and can contribute to inflammation in the body.
What does healing through the holidays mean?
Focusing on healing the holidays is not about sticking to a diet plan perfectly and being strict. In fact, it’s the opposite. I find that most of my clients are successful when they find the balance of participating in life, meaning attending parties, going out to eat etc. in their journey of healing. The key here is to find the right balance for you and your body! This is where this guide can be helpful. It may be that a person picks and chooses holiday events to attend or eat at and other times they host or bring foods that are more supportive to their healing goals. Consistency matters and also taking time to have fun and enjoy friends and loved ones matter, which is often surrounded by food. In the videos I have done my best to provide helpful tools to help you navigate how to balance both!