Busy, Yet Pretty - Holiday Food Freedom — Navigating Body Image & Self-Care During the Season

Episode Date: November 24, 2025

In this heartfelt Busy Yet Pretty episode, Jadyn Hailey opens up about the realities of food, body image, and self-care during the holidays. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, she shares gentle reminders to let go of guilt, embrace comfort foods, and honor your cravings without fear. You’ll learn how to reframe holiday eating as nourishment for both body and soul, practice presence at the table, and create cozy rituals that make food a joyful part of the season. Instagram:  Jadyn's IG & Busy, Yet Pretty IG - Busy, Yet Pretty Groupchat- Tiktok: @FairyJadyn- My Amazon Storefront: Jadyn's StorefrontSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to the Busy Yet Pretty Podcast. I'm your host, Jaden Haley. I hope you had the most lovely start to your morning or whenever you're listening to this. I can't believe we're getting closer and closer to the holidays, which is why I feel like this episode is just so on topic and on brand to talk about since the holidays are right around the corner where food can be kind of an iffy feeling and topic to talk about and also just things that it's real life things. It's realistic that many of us feel kind of iffy when it comes to food and social gatherings and your relationship with your body during the holidays when we're just eating those yummy snacks and those yummy foods. So I want to be that safe space for you where you feel safe to talk about it and know that you're not

alone. So I hope you enjoy it this recap episode for the holidays on body image, food, and just navigating your relationship with food during the holidays. And I hope you enjoy it. Also, if you're listening through Spotify, let me know what your favorite Thanksgiving meal is because I want to cook new things for Thanksgiving. Something that's so good to do during the holidays if you do have a hard relationship with food is look forward to actually baking something or cooking something, make it a hobby and a craft

where it becomes exciting and you can look forward to it. But anyways, I hope you enjoyed this episode and let's get into it. Just in time for Thanksgiving, let's talk. talk about how to have a healthy relationship with food during the holidays. So Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, any holiday you celebrate, there's going to be food involved and usually it's kind of special to, you know, be with your family and eat the food and have the dinners and everything. But at the same time, it can be overwhelming if you are someone who struggles with your relationship with food or your body or, you know, in general, you have some guilt after you

eat. But let's chat about how to have a healthy relationship with food during the holidays and letting go of guilt. This has been highly requested, as I said, and I feel like regardless if you have or have had an eating disorder before in the past, or maybe you don't have the best relationship with food, we all sometimes can feel a bit guilty. When it comes to food in the holidays, so it's super important to be honest with yourself and realize that it is essential that you take care of yourself and nurture any feelings of restriction or shame of guilt around food during the holidays. When I had my eating disorder years ago, I, when I was younger, I remember how prominent food felt during the holidays, whether I was scared of how others would see me not eat a lot of the

food, or getting an urge of restriction, or a feeling like I don't deserve this food, or overall, maybe I'm just scared of the food. I remember having those feelings, and to be now where I'm at years later, having this peace of mind and just a quiet mind when it comes to food is so important. And of course, it takes lots of time to be able to change your mindset and to have a healthy relationship with food. And let me just say, I feel like everyone kind of gets doubts in their mind about food throughout time. So it's not going to be a perfect road up. So don't worry. But what I can say is there's things that you can think about to temporarily smooth and soothe out those moments of feeling guilt or stress about food to get some peace of mind and overall

a quiet mind when it comes to food during the holidays. Let me start by saying the holidays are meant to be joyful, relaxing, and the best time of the year. And that's supposed to be time spent with your family and getting cozy, not you spending and wasting your time, just thinking and fretting about the food. On a different note, during the holidays, we tend to eat more cozy foods and comfort foods and sweet treats than we usually would during other months where we're maybe eating our usual healthier meals. But we eat a little more, you know, comfort foods and sweet treats during the holidays because it's the holidays. There's sweet treats, there's comfort foods, and that's what it is. But let me let you in on some food for thought, no pun intended. Our bodies sink with the seasons

and during the colder months. So during the summer, our bodies are going to digest raw foods better than in the winter where it's cold and chilly. So if you're thinking, oh gosh, I keep eating all these mashed potatoes and I keep eating all these sweet treats, I just need to eat a salad. Let me just reassure you right now that your body actually isn't going to digest cold raw veggies as good as you would warm foods. Those warm foods may be being your comfort foods. And when it comes to stress about food, your body will work against you when you're amped up and stressed out about food. Before I say this, I want to preface that your body is gorgeous. Any size you are throughout every many stages of our lives, our bodies are going to look different. So whatever stage your body is

in and all stages, your body is beautiful and stunning. But if you're thinking you're very stressed out about your body changing from how much you're going to eat during the holidays or how much you ate during the holidays, you're scared your body is going to change and look different. Let me reassure you that your body won't ever drastically change from enjoying your favorite foods during the holidays. I can't be the only one who has this like dream item of theirs that they always see whether it's a bag, a sweater, a top and you're like, I just need that, but it's like sold out everywhere. That's me with this one vintage duny and burk bag. I literally was looking everywhere for it and I somehow found one on a posh mark. But not just one. I found multiple of them at such a good price and I was like, wait,

This is just too good to be true. So if you know me, you know I am a Poshmark girl. Poshmark is a marketplace where you can list and sell, as well as buy new items, vintage pieces, gently used, luxury pieces, they really just have it all. And I feel like there's no better time to go on Poshmark now. Everyone's cleaning out their closet and listing good things. Get in bed, get cozy, and go on Pashmark to add to your new spring wardrobe.

New deals and sales are listed every day, so don't wait. Download the Poshmark app and use code busy when you sign up to get $10 off your first purchase or shop now at poshmark.com slash busy and get $10 off your first purchase. That's P-O-S-H-M-A-R-K dot com slash busy. I can't be the only one who has this like dream item of theirs that they always see whether it's a bag, a sweater, a top and you're like, I just need that but it's like sold out everywhere. That's me with this one vintage Duny and Burke bag. I literally was looking everywhere for it and I somehow found one on a Poshamark.

But not just one, I found multiple of them at such a good price and I was like, wait, this is just too good to be true. So if you know me, you know I am a Poshmark girl. Poshmark is a marketplace where you can list and sell as well as buy new items, vintage pieces, gently used, luxury pieces. They really just have it all. And I feel like there's no better time to go on Poshmark now. Everyone's cleaning out their closet and listing good things. Get in bed, get cozy and go on Pashmark to add to your new spring wardrobe, new deals and stuff. are listed every day, so don't wait.

Download the Poshmark app and use code busy when you sign up to get $10 off your first purchase. Or shop now at Pashmark.com slash busy and get $10 off your first purchase. That's P-O-S-H-M-A-R-K.com slash busy. It cannot drastically change from enjoying the holiday food. But even if your body did, even if you did have a little shift in your weight or maybe visually the appearance of your body feels a little different, I want to let you know that you can always bounce back because did you forget? You're not eating these foods every single day of your life.

You're eating this way maybe during the holidays. You're not eating holiday feast and holiday food an array of treats and desserts daily 365 days a year. So you eating that way and enjoying it during the holidays is not going to change your body ever drastically. And not only that, your body will adjust and bounce back to the initial way you start. started at. There is definitely times that I have felt, you know, less muscle, not as strong, or extremely bloated because I've been eating different from traveling or whatever it is. And I'm like, oh gosh, I feel so gross. After a few workout classes and after getting back on routine, I begin feeling better again because I bounce back. There are times I will go weeks without

not working out and I feel like I've lost my strength and my tone. But in a matter of workouts, I jumped back to where I started. The same's going to happen to you. So don't put pressure on yourself if you miss gym days or you miss your healthier meals. It's going to be okay, okay? Let your mind rest. Just enjoy the holidays. Let your mind rest.

And I know it's easier said than done. I've been there in that position. But I want to remind you that you're only here once and you need to enjoy everything because here's the thing. This time right now, right now, this moment, will never come back again. You will never relive this same day again. Your days are precious.

And it's crazy, like, of course, you don't want to feel scarce with your life. You want to live to the fullest and not feel scared to die or scared to not get everything in your life. But you want to think to yourself. With the way you're treating yourself and thinking, are you living life

or are you just alive? Because when you are allowing negative thoughts and thoughts about food and stress to eat you up, you're not living. You're not enjoying life. You're just alive. You want to live and enjoy. This is your life, not anyone else's. When you are on your deathbed, you're not going to be thinking about what you looked like on Christmas of 2024. You're not going to think about how skinny you looked back then. You're not going to think about how much you weighed at that time. You're going to thinking about all the beautiful memories of you baking cookies with your loved ones and eating them by the fireplace. If you have food during the holidays on a plate, if you have a roof over your head, you are lucky. You are so lucky and fortunate to be able to enjoy food. There are some people

who, their way of eating, they can only eat through a feeding tube and they can't even enjoy and taste exciting holiday food. Same with people that may not be able to afford having food on their plate. They can't get food, any food at all on their plate, especially during the holidays. Like, think about this. You have a luxury. Food is a luxury. Being able to enjoy and be with your family and enjoy food. Being able to have meals on your plate is a luxury. It's not something to be stressed out about. Life is too short to put vanity or sanity on a pedestal. and of course eating disorders and bad relationships with food are not just vanity of course i want to say that but sometimes we will see ourselves bloat after we eat especially after we eat holiday foods

will feel bloated sometimes heavy we'll just feel like sluggish but i'm here to tell you that bloating is temporary i feel like i'm like the bloat master at this point because i've suffered chronic bloating for many years and still to this day sometimes get those flare-ups and i'm here to this day sometimes get those flare-ups But let me just remind you that it is temporary. It will go down when you're feeling bloated or overly stuffed. Go get on a comfy t-shirt or your comfy cute PJs and just feel comfortable. Don't keep looking at yourself in the mirror, trying to measure your stomach and looking at yourself thinking, I need a workout extra now that I've eaten this much. No, you don't. Okay. You are so lucky that you're able to feed yourself and nourish yourself.

and it is beautiful that you got to create those memories of eating all these holiday foods. And if you are someone who struggles with bloating, you can even carry bloating supplements on hand to help ease discomfort and bloating. I mean, I always do in my purse. My favorite ones I have on my Amazon storefront, they're the array ones. They're all natural, which I like. But there are many different bloating supplements that you can get. If you do get discomfort with bloating, especially during the holidays,

But again, understand that bloating is temporary. But imagine passing up the opportunity to bake with your mom and watch a Christmas movie while you eat your yummy desserts together. Imagine during the holidays you're just looking at the table of food and not listening to your desire to eat it. Imagine not giving yourself the care it needs. As I always preach, self-care, self-care this, self-care that. But like I always say, self-care looks different in many ways in respecting your body by listening. listening to your cravings is one of them. Nourishing your body with the food that you enjoy is self-care.

It is as important and even more than doing a face mask or getting your nails done. Plus when you eat food in general, but especially during the holidays, you don't need to eat things only that have nutritional value. Sometimes we may eat some food or a lot of food that doesn't have much nutritional value and you think, gosh, I literally, I'm not eating healthy. all. I don't have any nutrients even in me. First of all, yes, you are. You're still nourishing yourself. And not only that, you're feeding your soul. And feeding your soul is just as important as nutrients. And if you're thinking to yourself, but Jaden, I cannot help to restrict and my mind will go

quiet. I'm so stressed out about the food during the holidays. I want you to practice being present. because being present is going to allow you to calm your mind and dial into the present moment. I want you to try eating without scrolling on TikTok and take time to plate your food on a pretty aesthetic plate that makes you excited to eat. Sit down, light a candle, and make it an enjoyable experience for you. And remember, by you eating, you're honoring yourself and giving yourself self-care by listening to your cravings. So once you're all cozy in your Christmas pajamas, the candle is lit, your pretty plate is plated with food, put on a Christmas movie and enjoy. Food is not after you or against you.

Food is your friend and food is a way to connect with others. Food is a way to enjoy and experience. I want you to give yourself grace and remember when you eat and when you begin to get anxious while you're eating, that you are safe and you are okay. stop labeling foods as good or bad foods in your mind and instead let that thought go and just really be mindful of not overthinking and just doing and enjoying the holidays are meant to be spent time connecting with others your loved ones baking caroling and of course enjoying your favorite cozy comfort foods i love you so so much and i really hope you enjoyed this episode as much as i did recording it. I feel like this is a topic that is not talked about enough and it's something that

we should really talk about because it is just, you know, something that is a universal problem. A lot of people struggle with food during the holidays and it's good to be honest with yourself and know how to calm yourself down and have those little techniques to think of when you begin feeling anxious around food during the holidays. Please, please, please give this rating a five star and share this over your Instagram story or share this to a friend who maybe is struggling with same thing. You know, it's something that, again, we all need to talk about to one another, and it's something not to be shameful about many of us, all ages, all genders, feel some way to type about food sometimes during the holidays, and it's really good to just be honest with

yourself. So anyways, I love you guys so much. Happy holidays. Have a great Thanksgiving. Let me see your yummy holiday Thanksgiving food, and send me a photo because I want to see all this gorgeous food. And I love you guys so much. and do not forget to stay busy yet pretty.