Laura Shammah, MS, RDN
This year, there’s barely a chance to catch our breath. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, but before we’ve even unpacked the beach bags or settled into new school routines, Rosh Hashanah is already here. Instead of easing into one season before preparing for the next, we’re hit with everything at once: school supplies, carpools, work schedules, holiday shopping, cooking, family obligations, and the pressure to have it all together.
For many people, this is exactly when healthy habits begin to unravel. As a dietitian who specializes in eating disorders and helping people build a healthier relationship with food, I see it every year. When life becomes stressful, people stop making themselves a priority. They skip meals because they’re busy. They grab whatever is convenient. They tell themselves they’ll “get back on track” after the holidays. But that’s exactly the mindset that keeps people feeling stuck.
The goal isn’t to have a perfect routine. The goal is to build what I call a healthy-minded head. A healthy-minded head understands that life changes. Schedules change. Seasons change. Your eating habits don’t have to become all-or-nothing every time your calendar gets busy.
Maybe your workouts aren’t an hour long anymore. Maybe they’re 10 to 20 minutes. That’s still taking care of yourself. Maybe dinner isn’t homemade every night. That’s okay too. Maybe the kids’ schedules have completely changed. Instead of only planning their meals, ask yourself, “When am I going to eat today?”
As parents, we become experts at taking care of everyone else. We pack lunches, organize activities, remind our children to eat, drink, and sleep. Yet somehow, we convince ourselves that skipping lunch or eating standing over the kitchen counter is acceptable. It isn’t. The healthier your relationship with food, the healthier your family’s relationship with food can become. One of the greatest gifts you can give your children isn’t a perfect meal. It’s watching you respect your own body.
As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, think beyond the symbolic apples and honey. A sweet new year doesn’t come from another diet that starts in January. It comes from making small decisions today that support your physical and emotional health.
Plan ahead. Keep mealtimes regular as much as possible. Stock easy meals for busy afternoons. Schedule movement into your week the same way you schedule appointments. Give yourself permission to enjoy holiday meals without guilt. Most importantly, remember that one busy season doesn’t erase all the progress you’ve made. Healthy people don’t have perfect routines. They have flexible routines.
This Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah, don’t strive for perfection. Strive for consistency. Go into this new school year and the New Year feeling prepared instead of frazzled, nourished instead of depleted, and committed to taking care of yourself just as well as you take care of everyone else. Because when your mind is healthy, your choices become healthier too. And that’s a gift worth carrying into every season.
