Navigating End of Year Festive Feasting Anxiety
This time of year has long been called the silly season, and it makes sense why. Work deadlines pile up, school events fill the calendar, Christmas preparations seem endless, and financial pressures sit quietly in the background. With so much noise, it is easy to slip into worry about food, gatherings, and the fear of losing control around eating.
Many people approach December with an all or nothing mindset. If they cannot be perfect, they give up entirely. Yet year after year this pattern leaves us feeling frustrated, guilty, and no further ahead.
In my work with women recovering from cancer and choosing a low carb or keto lifestyle to strengthen their metabolic health, I see how often perfection steals the joy from a season that should be about connection. Our bodies are not built for extremes. We need balance, nourishment, and moments of genuine enjoyment. Christmas comes once a year, and we can choose small, mindful splurges without abandoning our progress.
The 80/20 mindset can be transformative. Rather than avoiding every treat and then overeating later, choose your indulgence with intention. Enjoy a pavlova, mince pie, or shortbread cookie, but make the portion small and savour it slowly. When we eat with presence, our hunger hormones respond more effectively and our body registers fullness sooner.
Here are three practical strategies to support you this festive season:
Choose your splurge for the day. Decide in advance what you will enjoy and turn it into a slow, pleasurable experience. Eating slowly supports satiety and reduces overeating.
Find an accountability partner. Share your plan with someone you trust. When people around you understand your intentions, you walk into gatherings feeling more at ease, supported, and confident.
Prioritise protein and healthy fats earlier in the day. Make your morning and lunchtime meals high in protein, vegetables, and good fats. This stabilises appetite, minimises blood sugar swings, and prevents you from arriving at events feeling starving. Eat protein and veg first and save carbs for last so your leptin hormone can signal fullness.
Most importantly, remember that enjoyment is allowed. Social connection, shared meals, and family traditions are powerful for mental health. You can honour both your wellbeing goals and the spirit of the season. When you challenge old patterns, you often end up inspiring others too.
If you would like support to make 2026 feel more grounded and achievable, book a chat with me. In this call we will design your Reset blueprint for 2026. Do not start another year with goals that fade by February. Let us create a realistic and sustainable plan you can feel proud of.
Book here: katherinefroggatt.co.nz/claritycall
