28 Aug Season of Indulgence

September to December is the “season of indulgence.” As a society, we quicken our pace, sleep less, indulge more in sweets, rich foods, and drinks, start jobs, go to school, and all traditional sports for kids begin. Fairs and festivals can crowd every weekend with edible indulgences from fried Twinkies, Oreos, and bananas to savory truffle fries, corn dogs, and hot BBQ. Halloween,
Thanksgiving and all the December holidays involve children of all ages indulging in foods and staying out late—even the strictest of parents aren’t exempt from this right of passage. At the same time society is overindulging, we turn the clocks back, and sunlight keeps slipping from our days until we meet the shortest day of sunlight on December 22.

Few are free from the stress of this season of indulgence. Many of you are starting a new job or new school for your kids, have a child trying out for the seasonal sports team, are sending one off to college, or are dealing with the high emotions our secondary families can bring on for the holiday season. With the shift from the slower, easier flow of summer days to the early rise and hectic schedules brought on by September, this season of indulgence starts what is conventionally known as the ‘flu season.’

How to stay healthy during this season of indulgence:

• Move to more warm and cooked meals. As the temperatures fall our bodies need warm, hearty meals rather than raw salads, cold smoothies and cereals. Eat for the season. Seek out those fruits and vegetables currently in season. Make breakfast the largest meal of the day rather than dinner. Most children eat their largest meal in the earlier part of the day rather than at dinner time which is when most families are offering the meat and vegetables that are often left untouched. Consider soups or left over dinner for breakfast including meats and vegetables at this meal.
• Do less. If you look over the week and feel stressed over all the planned events, cut back. Kids need far more down time than they typically get each week. Cut back relative to your lifestyle. This will look different from one family to the next as we all move at different paces. And during those weeks where no one wants to miss out on any events attempt to ‘cushion’ those days. Cushioning weeks that have many happy busy events planned means making sure on those days you take extra care to feed your family well, give them a supplemental immune support like elderberry and aim for optimal sleep.
• Go to bed earlier. As the sun sets and rises daily so does the level of melatonin in our bodies. It is important to recognize this shift and adjust accordingly. Children are especially in tune with nature in this regard. In the Northeast US June 21 is the longest day of sunshine each year when we indulge in some 15 hours of sunlight. Around December 21 each year we have but 9 hours of sunlight. Plan on adjusting your child’s (and your own) bedtime to that of the setting of the sun. A good guide is to make this adjustment when we turn the clocks back in October and continue to adjust through the season. If you pay attention you will see that not only your child but you will also feel tired earlier in the evening as we march towards the shortest day of sunlight.

Remember every family moves to a different rhythm and pace. Make adjustments relative to your family’s lifestyle and you will lessen the chance of illnesses so common during this season of the year.