The Gut Check Every Mom Needs Before the Holidays

Because peppermint mochas don’t count as probiotics.

By Regina Steele | Integrative Health Coach + Founder of The Mom Reset

🎄 It’s the Most Wonderful (and Inflamed) Time of the Year

Ah, the holidays. That magical stretch where moms juggle shopping lists, cookie swaps, school events, and that one aunt who insists sugar is “just a suggestion.”

By mid-December, your gut feels like it’s been through a Vegas buffet (bloated, cranky, and overworked). Between peppermint mochas, “just one more” glass of wine, and the stress of making the holidays magical for everyone else, your digestion is basically waving a white flag.

And if you’re already running on caffeine and chaos (hi, welcome back), your gut is the first thing to go off the rails.

Why Your Gut Is the First to Lose Its Cool

The gut is like your overachieving best friend. It tries to keep the peace even when everything else is falling apart. But there’s only so much it can take.

Holiday stress, sugar overload, and sleep deprivation create the perfect storm. When cortisol (your stress hormone) spikes, digestion slows. The more stressed you are, the more sluggish your gut becomes... and cue the bloating, brain fog, and emotional rollercoaster.

It’s not “just stress.” It’s a full-blown biochemical domino effect.

Here’s the truth bomb:

Your gut health doesn’t just affect digestion: it affects your mood, your immune system, and how you handle stress.

So when you’re snapping at your kids or crying into a pile of wrapping paper, it’s not just hormones. It’s your microbiome begging for mercy.

The Gut-Mind Drama Nobody Talks About

Ever notice how your stomach tightens when you’re overwhelmed or how you crave carbs when you’re anxious? That’s your gut and brain gossiping behind your back.

The two are in constant communication through something called the gut-brain axis. Basically, a group chat between your digestive system and nervous system. When your gut’s unhappy, your brain feels it.

That’s why emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and sugar cravings tend to show up together. It’s not weakness; it’s biology.

So before you swear off carbs or sign up for another holiday cleanse (please don’t), start with balance. Feed your gut what it actually needs: warmth, nourishment, and rest.

The Broth That Saved My Sanity (and My Gut)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: "Broth is liquid therapy" for a mom’s gut. It’s loaded with minerals, collagen, and amino acids that help repair the intestinal lining, soothe inflammation, and keep your digestion strong through the season of sugar and stress.

Here’s my go-to recipe that even the pickiest family members will love:

Homemade Gut-Healing Broth

Ingredients:

• 1 whole organic chicken carcass or 2 lbs beef bones (or veggie scraps for plant-based) (I slow cook a chicken in my slow cooker, remove the meat to use for dinner, and put the bones and skin back in the slow cooker)

• 3 carrots, chopped

• 3 celery stalks, chopped

• 1 onion, quartered

• 4 garlic cloves, smashed

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (pulls minerals from the bones)

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp whole peppercorns

• A few sprigs fresh herbs (thyme, parsley)

• 2 Bay Leaves

• 10–12 cups filtered water

Directions:

1. Add everything to a large pot or slow cooker.

2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

3. Simmer 10–24 hours (the longer, the richer) or slow cook on LOW for 8-9 HOURS

4. Strain and store in glass jars in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for later.

Use it: sip it warm in a mug, use it as a soup base, or pour it into a thermos for “mom fuel” on the go.

How to Survive the Holidays Without Hating Your Gut

A few non-depressing reminders before you spiral into sugar guilt:

• Don’t detox. Support, don’t punish. Your body isn’t toxic; it’s tired.

• Hydrate before you caffeinate. One glass of water before coffee. (You’ll thank me later.)

• Add fiber and fat. They slow sugar spikes and keep your gut bacteria fed.

• Eat something green before something sweet. No, not a green cookie.

• Laugh. It boosts your microbiome. Science literally says so.

Your 5-Minute Reset

When your gut feels off and your patience is hanging by a tinsel thread:

1. Heat up a mug of broth (or tea if you’re fancy).

2. Sit. (Yes, sit. Don’t multitask.)

3. Put one hand on your belly, take five slow breaths.

4. Ask yourself, “What does my body need right now?”

5. Then actually listen.

Your gut always knows the answer.

 Follow for More Gut-Healthy Mom Hacks

If you’re ready to survive the holidays without feeling like a bloated ornament, follow me on Pinterest @steele_truthblog .

That’s where I’m sharing my favorite gut-friendly recipes, stress-busting rituals, and realistic mom health hacks all season long.

And when you’re ready to go deeper into rebuilding your energy and hormone balance? Check out my book Mother F*cked,  because your health deserves more than peppermint mochas and panic.

Optional Resources to Explore

• Podcast: The Doctor’s Farmacy : “How Stress Wrecks Your Gut (and How to Fix It)”

• Book: Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

• Clean Brand Pick: Just Thrive Probiotic ... mom-approved gut health essential