December has a way of testing even the most grounded routines… Colder weather. Shorter days. More sugar everywhere you turn. More social plans, more travel, more late nights, more stress layered on top of good intentions. It is one of the hardest months of the year to “stay healthy” if your definition of healthy means rigid rules, perfection, or white knuckling your way through holiday meals.
This is why I never approach December with a perfection mindset. The goal is not to eat “clean” at every meal or to avoid holiday foods altogether. The goal is to support your body so it can handle more than usual and still feel steady, energized, and grounded. When you shift your focus from restriction to support, December becomes much easier to navigate.
Warm, Grounding Meals
Cold foods and icy drinks can be harder on digestion in the winter, which can lead to bloating, fatigue, and stronger cravings. Warm foods are more supportive for the digestive system and help keep blood sugar more stable, which matters even more when life feels busier. This is why soups, stews, roasted vegetables, and slow cooked proteins become staples for me in December. Meals that are warm and nourishing signal safety to the body, which allows digestion and metabolism to function more efficiently. When your body feels supported, it is far less likely to crave quick energy from sugar all day long.
Protein + Fiber
Protein also becomes nonnegotiable this time of year. During the holidays, I see many people unintentionally under eat protein, especially earlier in the day. Breakfast turns into coffee and toast, lunches get rushed, and by the afternoon cravings are running the show. Protein is one of the most powerful tools we have for stabilizing energy, mood, hormones, and appetite. I aim for thirty grams of protein per meal whenever possible, because starting the day this way sets everything else up for success. When you prioritize protein at each meal, cravings calm down and enjoying holiday foods becomes much easier and more intuitive. In general, I encourage clients to think protein first and fiber second, then enjoy what is available. When meals are built this way, blood sugar stays more stable, portions regulate naturally, and guilt disappears. You can enjoy holiday foods without feeling like you have fallen off track.
Minerals
This another critical piece that often gets overlooked in December. Stress, sugar, travel, and even colder weather all increase mineral loss, which can leave you feeling tired, anxious, dehydrated, or run down even if you are eating well. Supporting your body with minerals helps regulate hydration, stress response, and immune function. This looks like adding electrolytes to water, using sea salt intentionally on meals, eating leafy greens when possible, and including foods like pumpkin seeds and bone broth regularly. Minerals help your body handle stress more gracefully, which is especially important during a busy and emotionally charged season.
Immune Boosting Foods
Because December is also peak viral season, I focus on consistently feeding my immune system rather than reacting once I feel run down. Garlic, ginger, onions, citrus, mushrooms, and bone broth show up often in my meals. These foods support immune function and gut health, which are deeply connected. When you nourish your immune system daily, it is better prepared to handle exposure from travel, gatherings, and long days.
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats also play a bigger role in winter than many people realize. As temperatures drop, the body naturally needs more fat to support hormones, skin health, inflammation balance, and steady energy. Including olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, and salmon makes meals more satisfying and helps stabilize blood sugar during heavier holiday eating.
But as important as what I eat is how I eat. December nourishment is not only nutritional, it is nervous system support. Eating slowly, sitting down for meals, sharing food with loved ones, and staying off your phone while you eat all help signal safety to the body. Digestion, metabolism, and immunity work best when the nervous system is calm. That is how I personally approach December, and it is how I help my clients stay balanced during one of the most demanding months of the year.
Elissa Goodman is a certified holistic nutritionist and wellness expert known for her grounded, intuitive approach to feeling better from the inside out. Through her work as an author, cleanse creator, and trusted voice in the wellness space, Elissa Goodman focuses on simple, sustainable habits that support digestion, energy, and overall balance.
