Do you love Hallmark movies this time of year? The snow, the outdoor seating area, the ice skating rink, the fireplace, and, of course, tray after tray of perfect Christmas cookies and holiday treats. Mom and daughter are laughing (and eating cookies), and the handsome stranger is standing by (also eating cookies, of course). 😂

In real life, the holidays usually aren't this relaxing. 🤣 But over the years, I've learned a weird, counterintuitive secret to staying more relaxed and making the holidays more magical for everyone (including myself!) in the process.

The secret is... prioritize yourself as best you can, so that you're not the last person on the list being taken care of. ❤️

For example, here's what this looks like for me at holiday parties:

I used to arrive starving... and then eat absolutely everything, because "It's the last time I'm going to have this till next year!" or "I don't want to offend so-and-so who makes these special whatevers." That's nice, but party after party left me feeling puffy, kind of yucky, and guilty. "I'll start over on Monday" became my holiday mantra. 🤣

So here's what finally worked for me: I bring my own stuff to the party! 🎉 A real crowd-pleasing treat that also happens to be nourishing for my body.

But it MUST BE SOMETHING YOU LIKE! Not a tub of dry chicken cubes you eat desolately in the corner. 😂 It's okay to LOVE food... especially at the holidays!

Sounds too simple? I thought so too. But when I've got a delightful snack I can freely munch on, the pressure's off. I'm going to have fun eating no matter what choice I make.

In other words, I'm not subject to everything on the dessert table. I can enjoy the peanut butter balls (yes please!), stop at 2 or 3 without feeling deprived, and skip the stuff I don't really want after all. It puts me in the driver's seat, instead of being driven around by the dessert table!

Your mission today (should you choose to accept it 😁): pick ONE food, prep it, and stash it in the fridge or freezer for your next get-together. Remember: it has to feel good in your body, and it can't be gross! 👍🏻

Need ideas? Here are a few things I love to bring or make:

• Cheese and almond-flour crackers

• A bowl of mixed nuts

• An olive and artichoke heart platter (this feels totally decadent and filling, but there are veggies in it too!)

• Individually wrapped dark chocolates

• My current favorite dessert, cut really small for dessert-table bites: 👉 My Decadent Butterscotch Blondies​

• "Burger bites"! No recipe yet (I should make one!), but it's just little broiled or sautéed beef balls, a mini tomato, a piece of avocado or bacon, and a little lettuce leaf on a toothpick. EVERYONE LOVES THESE! 🎉

IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE IN THIS EMAIL, PLEASE READ THIS: Looking after your own needs during the holidays isn't selfish, it's the secret ingredient. After all, it's not the cookies that make the holidays special... it's YOU!

Let me know what you pick! I can't wait to hear from you!

I love you!

Tracy 🤗

P.S. Do you have another idea to increase your JOY this holiday season? Hit reply and tell me. I'd love to learn from you! (A favorite nourishing recipe we can munch on all night? I'd love to know that too! 😄)