I always say the holiday eating season runs from Thanksgiving until the Steelers are out of the Super Bowl. (This year, sadly, the holiday eating season ended way too early being that the Steelers were heart-breakingly beat up, injured, and played downright pathetically). But it meant that I could stick to “New Year’s Resolutions” just a little bit easier because I didn’t feel the need to cook my typical Steeler Sunday fare of Primanti Bros. knock-offs, perogies, chili, chips and loads of dips that I make for a crowd. Game day fare is my weakness. Sunday is my ultimate cheat day. It is my kryptonite.
We all have kryptonite, don’t we? A comfort food like cheesy mac and cheese. Gooey Brownie and a scoop, or three, of ice cream. That one thing we just can’t pass up.
Today the day after the Super Bowl people brought in their game day leftovers. Why? Well, because they couldn’t have that kryptonite in their own homes! It’s like the days after Halloween and Christmas. Why tempt at home when you can pass them off on your coworkers?
For the love of all that is holy – WHY? OH WHY? When I am putting my healthy lunch of veggies, hummus and cabbage soup in the fridge do I have to see your game day leftovers. A jar of queso and chips to share? OH DEAR LORD! S H A R E?!?!?! Don’t you know I’m a social eater? When I see that you want to share I . AM. TOO. WEAK. Can’t. Pass. Up.
It’s not the FOOD that is my kryptonite. It is BEING SOCIAL. It’s the kindness, the refusal to pass up a sweet treat. To feel the need to stuff my face in social settings. It’s the need to show my love for family and friends through special dishes. My “holiday eating season” goes through to the end of football season because it combines my favorite things, throwing parties, showing my love through preparation of food and football.
So, here’s to the end of this year’s eating season! Next year, like the Steelers, I hope to do a little better.
(But yeah, it’s kind of the dip too. I really love the chip and dip. The queso and tortilla. The veggie and hummus. I can’t resist the dip. Damn, kryptonite.)
What’s your kryptonie?
Cookies are my kryptonite. If I can stay away from having the first bite, then I’m okay. If I have the first bite, two hours later, I’m going to sprawled in a corner, totally bloated, and burping chocolate essence.
My holiday eating season kicks off the week before Halloween, with my birthday and runs through the end of January, when my husband and daughter have their birthdays two days apart.
I’m not sure I have a kryptonite. As I’ve gotten older, my body simply doesn’t let me sit and eat the way I used to without great rebellion. I suppose that’s good and I should embrace it for all it’s worth, but there are times when it just makes me feel old.