[Leeney]

Halloween is just around the corner and in our society it marks the beginning of Eating Season! Let's just take this a step at a time. It always helps me to have a plan in place when I know I'll be confronting 'eating' situations. Halloween is not really a big issue for me any more. I don't work at an office, so there is no candy lying around. We don't have anything like that in the house and don't need to buy any for the Trick or Treaters because in the 20 years we've lived here, we haven't had a one. I'm sure I'll come into contact with goodies somewhere along the line, but the incidental things like that are lots easier for me to pass on than things like going to a party or having stuff in the house.

What temptations do you face, and what's your plan to deal with them?

[Sparticles]

Eating season for us started with my birthday on Oct 15th. From now through New Years we have not only the regular holidays but also everyone's birthdays and our anniversary.

We don't get trick or treaters in our third floor apartment, so there's no candy around. I do a lot of decorating for the day so that's my treat each year. As for Halloween food, I'll add some pureed pumpkin from a can to my morning oatmeal, maybe make a batch of pumpkin muffins, and dinner will be this recipe from Veganomicon - Pumpkin Baked Ziti with Caramelized Onions and Sage Crumb Topping, minus the topping.

Next comes our 34th anniversary, and that's one day we always eat off-plan. I won't say what it is as not to tempt anyone.

2 days later is my husband's birthday. This year it's a work day and he said he might just want Chinese food delivered this year. That's fine with me, as the restaurant we order from has a "healthy" menu that contains no MSG, no sodium, no oil, and comes with brown instead of white rice. He always says the eggrolls will stand in for birthday cake and we usually stick a candle in one and sing.

A week after that comes our son's birthday, and he already requested lasagna this year. He's used to my healthy version, using whole wheat noodles, tofu ricotta, no-salt tomato sauce, and spinach layered in with the pasta and cheese. He's not a sweets-eater and always tells me, even when a little kid, NO cake! Fine with me. I might buy him a box of animal crackers as a joke. This is one of the few sweets he does eat (butter cookies the other) and can stretch one of those tiny boxes out for 2 weeks. I keep asking him if he's sure he's my kid. LOL

2 days later comes Thanksgiving, another off-plan day, mostly because of the sodium. I'll make up some of those Gardien chicken breasts (I toss out the sauce packets so it doesn't matter which version I grab), make gravy from scratch, and we'll have stuffing (here's where the salt is), cranberries, and a few different vegetables. We always have an apple pie for dessert.There's a new vegan cookbook out, Vegan Pie in the Sky, and I might buy it and make up an apple pie from scratch this year. Of course, those lofty plans usually go out the window when I'm busy watching the parade or Star Wars marathon and we'll probably wind up with store-bought.

I'm then safe until Christmas. If my son wants butter cookies during this time he can hit the bakery and buy them himself, but at almost $20 a pound he's only done it once or twice in his life. Dinner that day will be a repeat of what we had on Thanksgiving, but substitute a homemade tofu chocolate pudding pie for the apple. Add some hot chocolate to make the season merry and bright. Of course, there are marhmallows and a candy cane in the mug.

At least New Years, the day or eve, is never anything big around here. We go to bed regular time, wake up the next day regular time, eat regular meals both days.

From then on, it's the long, cold winter days and nights, calling out for comfort foods, baked goods, and hot soup and stews. I can avoid most baking, but my body just cries out for those hot chocolates when the temps are in the 20's, wind is howling, and snow is swirling all around.

[Lauretta]

Leeney, on 27 October 2011 - 01:24 PM, said:

Halloween is just around the corner and in our society it marks the beginning of Eating Season! Let's just take this a step at a time. It always helps me to have a plan in place when I know I'll be confronting 'eating' situations. Halloween is not really a big issue for me any more. I don't work at an office, so there is no candy lying around. We don't have anything like that in the house and don't need to buy any for the Trick or Treaters because in the 20 years we've lived here, we haven't had a one. I'm sure I'll come into contact with goodies somewhere along the line, but the incidental things like that are lots easier for me to pass on than things like going to a party or having stuff in the house.

What temptations do you face, and what's your plan to deal with them?

In regards to Halloween, there is no temptation. My son is 17 and not going out to get tons of candy and we're giving out Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, which I don't like.

Thanksgiving is another story. I usually cook a huge turkey and fix tons of other things. I plan on doing the same thing I always do except i am not putting salt in anything. If people need the salt, they can add it after I cook it. Since I started the RD, I do not eat nearly as much as I used to so I think if I have small portions, I should be full fast. I will however, have a couple of bites of dessert, because my sweet tooth has not diminished whatsoever!!!

As far as December is concerned, that's way too far ahead for me to plan.

[Leeney]

Suzy, you are such a wealth of good information! Thank you so much. I've already save a couple of your links. Since I've become more plant based in my eating...not really fond of the word 'vegan'...I've been immersing myself in new recipes. Haven't bought any cookbooks yet because there is such a wealth of information online. My inbox is always full of new blogs and newsletters all containing recipes and new ideas. You certainly sound like you have things well planned out. I'm sure you have to be with so many causes for celebrations lumped together. Love the animal cookie story. Mr. Wonderful would have those gone in 7 minutes!

Lauretta, I'm with you. I can only deal with one holiday/celebration at a time, but for those times I do need to have a plan in place so as to avoid temptation.