The Art of Denial

No surprise...this little entry has to do with the holiday season and those fattening, delicious dishes of holiday favorites.  I made it through the first big one...Thanksgiving.  Now to say it was a total success would be a lie.  The Kansas Princess made it back to her state (and by Kansas Princess I mean me, I went back to Kansas) and of course there was mom's home cooking.  How could I pass this up?  There was also the trip to my favorite mexican restaurant that isn't in Tulsa and the trip to Olive Garden.  All in all my perfectly delightful trip home, also had some perfectly delightful food options.

I began thinking why I would completely blow the progress I've made by devouring all this savory food.  I came up with a ground breaking conclusion...the art of denial.

The art of denial.  Basically I figured out that when I eat places or eat food I normally don't get to eat, I feel like if I don't eat what I want I am denying myself.  For example, I usually eat at Carlos O'Kellys (the mexican restaurant in Wichita) maybe once or twice a year when I'm home.  So when I looked at the menu and found the queso I love and the pasta dish I couldn't live without, I ordered them because I felt that it was denying myself these delicious dishes that I hardly ever get to eat.  The same goes for the other places we dined this weekend.  I don't eat out all that often during the work week, so when my parents take me out I feel that if I don't get that dish I love it'll be forever until I go back and am able to order it again.

What I've decided is that its not really denying myself if I search the menu to find healthier options.  Its more of a way to find something even better on the menu.  So now instead of thinking, I should get this because I don't know when I'll be back again, I'll think, what is something I haven't tried that looks healthy.

Now that you have the background of the art of denial and my solution for it...you're probably thinking what about the holidays?  Okay so here's what I've come up with...how about eat what you want on the actual day of the holiday.  On Christmas day, eat one plate that has all your favorites on it.  And leave it at that.  Have one dessert you really want and be done.  Then the next day you can continue back on your new lifestyle change.  This could work, that way you're not denying yourself and you're fully enjoying the holiday.  And as long as you're employing the new menu browsing strategy, one day for the holiday season isn't too bad.

So I've successfully figured out my denial problem and the solution for it.  And what I plan to do on the holiday.  Happy Holidays to everyone!