{"id":7560,"date":"2018-11-20T07:48:26","date_gmt":"2018-11-20T07:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fxnutrition.com\/?p=7560"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:01:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:01:31","slug":"your-biggest-holiday-pitfalls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fxnutrition.com\/blog\/your-biggest-holiday-pitfalls","title":{"rendered":"8 Tips to Overcome Holiday Pitfalls"},"content":{"rendered":"

Family gatherings that bring mixed blessings<\/span><\/h3>\n

For decades, Thanksgiving was the holiday my parents claimed, calling all west coast family members to feast at their table. Back in the day, when they lived in Colorado, my late husband Isamu and I would stuff our bags with sweaters and prepare for the mixed blessings of a family gathering.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was always the comfort of being in the folds of my parents\u2019 home. In the early years of my and Isamu\u2019s relationship, there was also the nervousness of bringing my then boyfriend into the mix. There was the fun of planning and preparing an extravagant meal, the satisfaction of eating the homemade goodness, and the inevitable tension around clean-up time. <\/span>A holiday pitfall that would arise due to my dad\u2019s propensity to run a tight ship without necessarily informing anyone of his plan-of-action.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

My mom and I are now both widows, but as the years have progressed, I still love to return to the comfort of being in the folds of her home for the holidays. I rise to the exciting challenge and fun of helping to prepare an extravagant meal to meet the differing dietary restrictions of everyone about to convene around the table.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing in the kitchen, rolling out gluten-free pie-crusts and creating the designs on top of a pumpkin hazelnut tart with my niece, it\u2019s impossible not to be brought back to those memories of holiday\u2019s past. Isamu was <\/span>the best<\/span><\/i> pie edge crimper I\u2019ve ever known. And his love for food was so sensual that I was always grateful for the opportunity to cook for him. Those memories that I savor are ones of starting and building a family\u2014of something that felt like spring in the midst of autumn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, I look forward to the satisfaction of what I\u2019m sure will be a meal prepared with love and gratitude and, most importantly, shared with those who have been part of my past, present and future Thanksgivings. <\/span>I even think we figured out how to skirt one of our biggest holiday pitfalls\u2026the holiday dinner clean-up. For that I give thanks!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

<\/span>Lead with love and gratitude<\/span><\/h3>\n

This Thanksgiving I celebrate life, as Isamu did, and as I know he would have wanted his family to do. I celebrate my dad, who used to tend to the turkey with so much love and attention, and in whose memory we will carve with the utmost care. And I celebrate you, and all the steps you have taken this year to support your own true vibrancy and improved health.<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope your plate is filled with the blessed patterns that holidays can offer:<\/span><\/p>\n