Hashimotos Thyroiditis: The Holidays and Temptations

Understanding we are on our own journey with Hashimotos Thyroidits, and many do not desire to indulge this time of year due to healing protocols, etc., I am choosing a special treat to bring to gatherings to help me celebrate the holidays. Although a wonderful time emotionally and spiritually for most people, I have found more discomfort during past holidays than any other time of the year. This year, I feel different. I am different. I am healing! But, I would not be posting this treat if I had been at the part of my journey just 6 months ago. Because I am about 9 months into the GAPS Diet, I am allowing myself some indulgences during this time. If I react to these, I will take them out. But this is temporary because there is no reason to focus on treats like this on a daily basis, especially during normal times of the year.

But for these next two weeks, I plan on having substitute “treats” for myself when others around me are “decking the halls” with sugary sweets that would turn my system upside down and inside out! In fact, I don’t even consider that true food anymore. True food for me is now only made with nourishing food. So, I set out to find a treat that would make me happy during this time of year. Now, it’s a personal thing whether we should allow these treats, especially if we are miserable and have not gone very far in healing. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have even cared to think about these little treats. Why? Because healing was the only goal I had and I’m so glad I made that choice.

So, I don’t mind a little celebrating this season because it is not hurting me like other indulgences have in the past. To be honest, gluten was the main player for years at this time of year. Oh how I loved to bake! Those days are over and so are the days and days of recovery from such foods. For me, gluten is poison, thereby a non-food. So, I found this grain free, sugar free, gluten free, egg free, delicious recipe for some Paleo Magic Bars complements of TGIPaleo.com which I tweaked just a little to make them GAPS friendly as well as a few changes for personal tastes. I eliminated the maple syrup and used raw honey instead for GAPS, took out the coconut (personal dislike), and made my own GAPS friendly chocolate which I found over at ournourishingroots.com only adding a speck more honey for my tastes and omitted the coffee. Now I have a special treat I am freezing for those times I just desire a little something when others are eating desserts all around me. And it is so much like my favorite desserts of the past. In January, I go back to being in big time healing mode, but for now, I feel I have healed enough to enjoy a little something different.

Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy and healing holiday season! The new year will bring new opportunities for healing and I’m excited about learning more and more as we hear about how to heal together.