Simple Tips to Keep Your Gut Happy Through the Holidays

The holidays are here! With them come indulgent feasts, late-night snacks, and unpredictable schedules. From hors d’oeuvres to desserts, the food just keeps coming. But don’t worry—healthy holiday eating doesn’t have to be a struggle. By following a few Ayurvedic principles and mindful eating practices, you can enjoy the season’s indulgences while supporting your digestive health. Let’s explore simple ways to keep your gut happy, your energy steady, and your wellbeing intact throughout the holidays.​

Understanding Holiday Digestive Strain

The Challenge: The holidays are a perfect storm for digestive discomfort. Overindulgence, heavy meals, cold foods, and late dinners can tax your digestive fire (agni), leaving you feeling sluggish, bloated, or foggy.
The Solution: Small, intentional changes can make a big difference. Ayurveda offers simple, practical tips to help you enjoy the festivities without sacrificing how you feel. Here’s how…

Before the Holiday Meal

Eat Light for 24 Hours Before: Give your digestive system a break with soups, stews, or other easy-to-digest meals the day before your holiday celebration. Lean toward lighter vegetarian meals.
Start Your Day Right:

• If you’re hungry for it, eat a light, nourishing breakfast. Think oatmeal with cinnamon and ghee, broth or stewed fruit.
• Skipping breakfast can backfire, leading to overeating later in the day. You don’t want to show up to the main event starving.
  
• But if you’re not hungry for breakfast - no need to force it. Err on the side of eating light.​​

​​Bring Digestive Support:

• Prepare a thermos of digestive tea using cumin, fennel, and ginger. This tea helps fire up digestion, so you feel light and balanced even after hearty meals. Sip throughout the day to keep digestion on track.

Digestive Tea Recipe:

• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger
• 2 cups water

Bring water to a boil and add cumin, fennel, and ginger. Let simmer for 5 minutes, then strain and sip slowly.

During the Feast

Pace Yourself:

• Start with appetizers, but don’t overdo it. Try one or two small bites, then sip on your tea.
• Ideally give yourself at least three hours between appetizers and the main course for better digestion. This isn’t always realistic, so do the best you can. Try to take breaks from eating between courses so that you’re not grazing all day. ​​

Portion Mindfully:

• It’s okay to try everything, but keep portions small—imagine the amount that would fit in your cupped hands. This is about half the size of your stomach! 
• It’s ideal to keep the stomach half full with food, a quarter full with liquid and a quarter empty for space to churn.
• Chew well and savor every bite. Mindful eating helps you connect with your body and enjoy the flavors.
• Stop eating when satiated. Enjoy everything, but avoid overeating as it’s one of the worst things you can do to your gut.

Hydrate Wisely:

• Sip warm water or herbal tea throughout the day. 
• If you’re going to have alcohol, a little bit of red wine can support digestion.
• Avoid cold drinks, as they can weaken your digestive fire.

Be Present and Grateful:

• No guilt, no regrets. If you’re going to eat it, savor it. Don’t feel guilty while eating. Guilt creates stress which diminishes digestion.
• Enjoy every bite mindfully and appreciate the abundance.

After the Meal

Move Your Body:

• Take a short, 15-minute walk after dinner. If walking isn’t possible, play with the kids, pets, or other family members—anything to avoid sinking into the couch right away. Movement prevents sluggishness and helps digestion.

End with Warmth:

• Make a batch of ginger-lime pickles (thin slices of fresh ginger topped with fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt) for a quick, post-meal digestive boost. You can serve one to everyone after dessert and tell them their gut will thank them. ​

Avoid Late-Night Eating:

• Try to resist the temptation to munch late at night. Overeating or grazing before bed can strain digestion and leave you feeling heavy the next morning. If you do get hungry before bed, opt for something light and warm, like a small cup of herbal tea, to support your gut without overloading it.

The Morning After

Move Again:

• Get moving first thing in the morning. Ideally on an empty stomach to stoke your digestive fire. Whether it’s a walk, hike, dance party or bike ride, encourage your family to join you for a refreshing start to the day.

Wait for True Hunger:

• Skip breakfast if you’re not truly hungry.
• You can observe a light fast for a meal or two to give your digestion time to recover.
• If you do feel real hunger coming from your gut (stomach pangs are a good sign!), enjoy a lighter breakfast option (as mentioned above).​

Stick to Warm, Light Foods:

• Soups and stews with digestive spices like ginger, black pepper, cumin, turmeric and cilantro are perfect for the day after a heavy meal.

Lean on Herbal Support

• Use herbs to fuel your digestive fire. 
• Enjoy ginger lime pickles after meals.
• Sip on digestive teas like the one mentioned above or below.

Ginger Turmeric Tea Recipe

• 2” piece of fresh ginger, chopped
• 6 c water
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• Honey to taste

 ​Instructions:

1. Combine the ginger and water in a pot and low boil for 20 min
2. Add the turmeric, turn off the heat and let steep for 5 min
3. Strain into mugs and sweeten with honey

Your Holiday Reset Plan

The holidays don’t have to leave you feeling bloated and drained. With these simple tips, you can enjoy the festivities and still feel great the next day.
Looking for more support? Keep an eye out for my 7-Day Soup Fast this January! It’s the perfect way to reset your digestion and start the new year with energy and clarity.
If you're searching for Ayurvedic health services in Asbury Park, NJ, or looking for personalized guidance to support your health, Indra Holistic Health is here to help. Kimberly, our experienced Ayurvedic practitioner, can teach you how to apply Ayurvedic principles for a healthier, more balanced holiday season.​

Whether you’re interested in:

• Resetting your digestion after the holidays
• Developing a personalized Ayurvedic diet
• Learning actionable strategies for lasting energy and vitality

We're here to support your journey toward balanced nutrition and wellbeing.
Start your path to vibrant health right here in New Jersey or online with Indra Holistic Health.