Have you ever noticed that food is an important part of all of our holidays and get-togethers? In fact, for most of us, a holiday is not a holiday unless we get to eat the foods that are automatically built into that special day.

What would Easter be like without the traditional ham or Christmas without prime rib or turkey and all the trimmings, not to mention a month of goodies?

Oh, dear, the pounds just fly on just thinking about that holiday month, dont they? Moan, groanI can hear you from here!

What would be the point of a Thanksgiving gathering unless turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and pie could be shared? Football without turkey? I dont think so!

How fun is a birthday without cake, candles, and ice cream or a summer barbeque without the meat sizzling on the grill? Boring!

Golly gee those fun days of celebration dont sound like much fun at all without the food we so love, now do they?

Well, my friend, Ive got great newsyoure gonna just love me for this. In fact, Ill take that hug right now if you dont mindIm always up for your hug!

Thanks! Ahhhh, I feel much better now.

Call those days of celebration feast days. I give credit to Dr. John McDougall for introducing me to this term. Feast days give you permission to eat the foods you lovecompletely guilt-free.

Whoa! Am I, a crazy, fanatical whole, fresh plant food nut (pun intended), actually suggesting that you can eat as much meat, gravy, potatoes and pie as you want?

Absolutely! Feast days are meant to be very special days. Families, friends, and food all help create the warm and fuzzy feelings wrapped around that celebration.

So savor every shared moment and morsel.

I, a vegan vegetarian for years, even fixed a whole turkey and all the trimmings for my one daughter this past Thanksgivingjust because it meant the world to her. Okay. I must confess. It also had a bit to do with my sons special phone call when he said, Mom, this is important to Erin. One little turkey will make her very happy.

(What we moms do for our kids and all the people we love, isnt that right, Mom?)

Love your feast day, but remember that a feast day lasts 24 hours, not 48 hours or 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Thats the tricky partknowing when the feast is finished!

Once the 24 hours is over, pick up where you left off.

Fill your plate and your stomach once again with the most nutritious, life-supporting and life-saving foods on the planetwhole, fresh fruits and vegetables, with a few whole unsalted, uncooked nuts, whole grains, and legumes thrown in for a bit of variety.

Why? Because your health and life depend on these foods.

AND, lets face it, celebrations are much more cherished and appreciated if they occur as they shouldseveral times a year instead of several times a week.

So as I hold my glass of homemade vegetable juice up to yours, heres to you, my dear friend, and your next feast day. May you choose to live a long life, overflowing with comfort, activity, joy, play, purpose, and love.

Yours in life and health,

Dr. Leslie