Holiday Food Kryptonite: How One Thought Can Change Everything

Food is often described as “just fuel.” And technically, it is fuel. It keeps our bodies alive. But if you’ve ever found yourself standing in front of a holiday treat, feeling powerless, you know food is so much more than fuel. It’s memories, traditions, emotions, and connection.

That’s why certain foods can feel so powerful, almost like holiday food kryptonite.

By kryptonite, I mean those foods that seem to strip away our power. The ones we feel weak around, the ones that trigger old patterns or make us believe we’ve lost control. Just like Superman near kryptonite, we feel drained, stuck, and unable to access our strength when they're within reach.

And here’s the thing: even women who are taking GLP‑1s still struggle with those moments when food feels like kryptonite. Medication helps the body, but it doesn’t rewrite the story in your mind. That’s where coaching comes in.

I dive deeper into this in my podcast. Listen here.

Facing Your Holiday Food Kryptonite

This week, I want to share a breakthrough from a coaching session that completely shifted the way a client sees one of her holiday traditions. Every year, she makes a special treat for her family. Everyone looks forward to it, including her.

But for her, this treat has become her kryptonite. She told me, “I can’t say no to it.”

That one sentence lit up my intuition. It was a DING DING DING moment. It's the kind of thought I know is shaping the entire experience. So we decided to explore it together.

The Struggle

When she believed the thought “I can’t say no to it,” she felt anxious, frustrated, and even mad at herself. And from that place, her actions followed the same pattern every year while she made the treat: skipping meals so she could “save up” for it, nibbling on ingredients as she baked, grazing all day in the kitchen, telling herself “I really need to stop”… then flipping into “I don’t care right now” and continuing to snack.

That cycle left her feeling powerless. And by the way... that “I don’t care right now” thought is so common among those of us who have dieted or restricted food for years. It’s the little rebel voice that says, “F it.” I know that rebel well. Maybe you do too.

The Breakthrough

Here’s the fascinating part: when we slowed down and examined the thought, she realized it wasn’t that she couldn’t say no… it was that she didn’t want to say no.

That shift changed everything. Suddenly, she had ownership. She could see it was a choice. And seeing that means the food is no longer in charge. Now she can give herself permission to splurge a little, enjoy the tradition, and not feel trapped by the food. And because the treat only shows up at Christmas, she recognized it’s temporary. That awareness brought her excitement and joy instead of anxiety.

I share more about this shift in my latest podcast episode. You can listen here.

Safeguards: Protecting Yourself from Kryptonite

Awareness is powerful, but safeguards make it practical. Think of safeguards as little plans that protect you from kryptonite.

Her safeguards included:

• Making the treat later in the month so it’s not around as long.

• Sharing it with family so it doesn’t linger at home.

• Being mindful while enjoying it.

• Planning a meal for the day she makes it, so she’s not skipping meals and grazing all day.

I use safeguards too. For example, when I bake Christmas cookies, I wait until closer to the holiday. Otherwise, they get gobbled up early, and I end up baking more. That’s not what I want. So I choose differently.

Safeguards aren’t rules, they’re supports. They help us enjoy traditions without losing ourselves.

Why Coaching Matters

When food feels like kryptonite, it’s rarely about the food itself. It’s about the meaning we’ve attached to it. That’s the power of reframing, and it’s why coaching matters. This work helps us notice the thoughts and emotions that create obstacles and keep us stuck. Foods that feel like kryptonite often carry deeply rooted memories, traditions, and feelings, which is why they can feel so overwhelming.

Coaching isn’t just about mindset; it’s about understanding the emotions behind the food, too. When we bring awareness to both, we reclaim our power. And that’s where true food freedom begins.

Try It Yourself: A Holiday Exercise

Now it’s your turn. I invite you to practice exploring thoughts and feelings about your holiday kryptonite foods with the following 5 steps.

1. Write down the thought that usually comes up for you with foods that feel like kryptonite. Maybe it’s “I can’t say no to it” or “I have no control.”

   
   

2. Notice how that thought makes you feel. What emotions or sensations show up?

   
   

3. Ask yourself — is the thought true? Just because you’ve been thinking it doesn’t mean it’s true. What else could be true for you? Keep in mind, the average person thinks approximately sixty thousand thoughts per day. They’re not all going to be true. Many are stories we keep repeating.

   
   

4. Try reframing it. What happens if you shift the thought to “I don’t want to say no to it” or “I choose to enjoy this”, or even “It’s possible I can have control”? By the way, I love using the word “possible” when reframing thoughts. It opens the door to curiosity and imagination, instead of pressure.

   
   

5. Create one safeguard to support yourself. Maybe it’s planning a meal before you spend the day baking, sharing it with others, or limiting how long it’s around.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s awareness, ownership, and choice.

Closing Reflection

One simple shift turned dread into joy. How awesome is it to find excitement in making the holiday treat everyone loves, instead of feeling dread?

I’ve learned this on my own journey, too. Buttercream used to feel like kryptonite for me. It’s not as strong now, but it’s still there. And I’ve come to accept it, because that gives me power over it.

As you move through this holiday season, I hope you give yourself permission to enjoy the traditions you love without shame, without anxiety, and without the old story of powerlessness.

You are not broken. You are human. And you are capable of choosing joy.

If this resonated with you, I invite you to listen to the full conversation on my podcast. And if you’re curious how coaching can support you, book a connection call at amyenglishcc.com.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays.

xo,

Amy

Amy English

Life Coach | Fat2Fierce®

Freedom Beyond Diet Culture

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