The Holiday Food Dilemma

Holidays are usually pretty exciting.

You’ve got your family, presents, traditions new and old, and of course, food. Maybe it’s family recipes, heaping plates of treats, or the thousands of chocolates stashed around your house.

But food isn’t fun for everyone. A lot of people struggle with their relationship with food, and this can be amplified with the focus it pulls around the holidays. You can see the struggle, with the New Years' binge of new diets and gym memberships. Food shouldn’t bring this sort of guilt, and this shows up everywhere.

Remember two key tips when it comes to holidays and food.

1. Never comment on another person’s relationship with food. Respect that everyone's body is their body, and unless you are a doctor you won’t benefit anyone by telling them they’re eating a lot. This means no raised eyebrows at someone having a second helping, no comments on someone else's weight, and no pushing to eat more.
2. Don’t talk about your relationship with food. It’s hard, maybe you lost weight this year and are pretty proud of it, or maybe you’ve been struggling and want to share. That’s totally okay. But remember, people hear those phrases and they have an effect on others. Don’t comment on how fat you are, or how you should be ashamed of eating so much. It isn’t making anyone more comfortable. On a new diet and won’t be partaking in holiday feasting? Perfectly okay, but it isn’t something you need to announce mid-dinner (“Oh no, see I’m trying to eat healthy, so no stuffing for me!”). Your comments, even ones geared towards yourself, impact others.

And don’t forget. Your body deserves nourishment. Withholding dinner one day so you can eat more at the next one isn’t healthy. Skipping meals and counting every single calorie won’t make them taste better.