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Food is important during the holidays. People are often less concerned with health- and sustainability-related issues during Christmas and the turn of the year. However, this does not have to be problematic. It is more important that your habits and routines are healthy during the rest of the year, according to Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� researchers. Supermarkets and restaurants have focused more on health and sustainability during the past years, but that can certainly still be improved.

Dieticians will agree that although images of delicious pies, cakes, snacks, and desserts are everywhere, December counts 31 days and most of them are not holidays. There are plenty of days left to eat ‘normally’. That is also how Utrecht Young Academy member Dr. Marleen Gillebaart views it. As a social psychologist, she researches successful self-regulation, particularly how people make healthy and sustainable choices. Trusting routines can help with that.

Committing to those routines, as well as letting them go from time to time, can be beneficial. “Routines are automatic, cost little effort, and are robust against external influences once they are formed. During the holidays, you can still lean on your routines. Do you always eat two pieces of fruit in the afternoon? That is also possible on Christmas Day. Do you always go for a run twice per week? That may even be easier during the Christmas break! But you can also choose to diverge from your routines. If you do so, and you are aware that it is an exception and a special occasion, you make it possible for yourself to go back to ‘normal’ afterwards.”

"If you are aware that it is an exception and a special occasion, you make it possible for yourself to go back to ‘normal’ afterwards.”

As a researcher, Dr. Marleen Gillebaart is involved in the Regio Deal Foodvalley project. This is a collaboration between the national government, local governments, entrepreneurs, and education and knowledge institutions. It aims to make the transition to a sustainable and healthy food system faster and easier. Read more about what researchers at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� say about sticking to routines during the holidays here (article only available in Dutch).