The leaves have changed, Starbucks has decorated everything in red, Christmas music is playing all around, and the air is notably crisp. The holidays are here, and we all know what that means: eating, eating, and more eating.

While I love the nostalgia of eating plates full of food and too many of my Grandma Hilda’s cookies, I now see that I’m disrespecting myself when I use the holidays as an excuse for poor eating habits that make me feel lethargic and ill. I’ve come to learn that I’m at at my best when I honor and respect my body through not only what I eat, but also how I eat.

Beauty radiates from the inside out, and is a reflection of the choices we make. Food is both our fuel and a great gift of pleasure—something that gives us nutrients that allow us to function, while also giving us tastes and textures to enjoy.

Keeping the whole picture in mind—that food nourishes and also delights—here are five guidelines for us all to take to heart during this season so that we can fully enjoy the upcoming food-centered holidays:

1. Wait for true hunger.
This sounds obvious, but also probably the most difficult rule to follow during this season. We are so swayed by the fragrant smells from the kitchen and the tempting treats in candy bowls that seem to be lurking everywhere. If we’re hungry, we should eat. If we’re not, we should wait.

2. Eat what’s enjoyable.
We should eat what we love (now and always, in my opinion)! When we choose foods that are appealing to our bodies, we’ll feel more satisfied and generally happier because we’re feeding them what they need. Sometimes we want salad, sometimes we want a cookie–it all balances out in the end, and we can trust our bodies to guide us.

3. Pay attention.
This time of year is chaotic for most of us as we run from party to party and reunite with family and friends we haven’t seen in a while. When we eat, let’s take a deep breath and relax. Rather than shovel food into our mouths while catching up with relatives and friends, let’s focus on what we have on our plates and recognize that we are in fact eating something.

4. Slow down and savor.
Much like the previous rule, this one has to do with being present while we’re eating. If we take our time and notice the flavors of what’s on our forks, we’ll end up feeling more satisfied and less stuffed.

5. Stop before fullness.
Our bodies have a delayed response to fullness, taking at least 20 minutes to tell us to stop eating any more. For this reason, we often eat more than we need and end up feeling like we need to loosen our belts. If we are committed to eating when we’re truly hungry, and we give ourselves permission to eat again whenever we feel that way, it will be easier to avoid overeating.

Photo Credit: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com