TIPS TO HAVE A FIBROMYALGIA PAIN-FREE ORGANIC THANKSGIVING!
Regardless of the day-to-day life of someone living with the pain of fibromyalgia and chronic illness, this day is different. If not actually pain-free, on this one glorious day, you typically can classify your pain as: not-so-much.
I’m talking about Thanksgiving!
It’s a day filled with fun, friends, and family. Surrounded by festivities and loved ones, we can usually forget our troubles for a while – or at least set them aside for a time. When company arrives, everyone looks great, everyone feels great, and we’re ready to celebrate with every tantalizing favorite dish and treat imaginable.
Wait a minute … does that sound like celebration or sabotage?
My intention in this post is to help you reduce your pain on Thanksgiving, not increase it.
We joke about wearing our “Joey’s Thanksgiving pants,” the tryptophan food coma, and needing an Alka-Seltzer cocktail as an after dinner aperitif. But when you deal with fibromyalgia and autoimmune concerns, we’re not just talking about a one day dietary disaster. Even eating one meal of treats not found on your “friendly foods” list can result in pain, fatigue, fogginess, increased body and head aches, and more.
That’s nothing compared to the compounded effects when that “one time” binge continues for days on end eating the leftovers! That’s stress on your body you don’t need. Am I suggesting you skip all of your favorite foods this year? No, of course not. Simply make a few healthier substitutions.
There is an alternative.
Would you like to get through the Holidays
with your body, mind, and gratitude still firmly intact?
Enjoy an Organic Thanksgiving!
I’ll share a few quick tips here on where to purchase organic produce, how to create lovely, bucolic decorations and centerpieces, and a savory side dish to dress your organic turkey. This is an info-packed post, so don’t miss a thing, read on …
First, take a trip to your local farmer’s market, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), organic foods specialty store, or even the organic section of your regular grocery store. When possible, it’s always preferable to support your local growers by buying foods that haven’t traveled 2,000 miles to get to your table. If a local farmer’s market is out of the question, and you prefer an online experience, try Shop Natural or Local Harvest as they specialize in organic and gourmet specialty items. Additionally, Local Harvest can help you to locate a farmer’s market or CSA organization in your community.
Of course, the grass fed, compassionately raised organic turkey may be your meal’s centerpiece. Order online or at local farmer’s market. Small companies like Mary’s Turkeys carry free-range organic turkeys and Local Harvest may also help to find sources local to you.
Time to decorate! Just step out your back door, or if you prefer, grab the kids and take them to your local park. Pick up twigs, branches and fall-colored leaves for decorating the table. Organic blueberries, cranberries, and cherries add festive fall colors to your arrangements, while natural beeswax candles add a bit of sparkling ambiance that every dinner table needs.
And, don’t forget to have fun in the kitchen, too.
Here’s a GREAT recipe for a creamy mashed potato alternative. Have you ever had Creamy Mashed Cauliflower? Seriously! Tastes just like mashed potatoes, yet it contains amazing fiber, vitamins C, K, folate, etc. all wrapped up in a much lower-glycemic treat than white potatoes. Compare the GI – Glycemic Index – of a white potato at 98 to cauliflower’s GI of 15. That’s a one-two punch to your typical insulin spiking fare. And, your mashed cauliflower can easily be made dairy free by substituting almond, coconut, or hemp milk. Try this RECIPE from Deliciously Organic.
Most of all, make sure to pause and reflect on your blessings. Seriously. Make time to pray or meditate on all that’s good in your life. Share your feelings of thankfulness with loved ones. A state of gratitude can provide healing benefits that blossom and bloom throughout both body and soul.
Do you want even more tips on how to get through the holidays with your nutrition plans intact? Check out my hot-off-the-press ProHealth article: 12 Tips to Stick to Your Fibromyalgia Diet Over the Holidays: How Family Influences Can Sabotage Your Eating Plans.
Do you have holiday diet disaster experiences? Share below! Or if you’d like to share success tips, we’d be grateful to pass them along as as well.
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Interested in co-creating your own program to heal from the inside out?
Check out Sue’s Rebuilding Wellness site – and click on the Work With Sue tab to learn more.
