The holidays are all about spending time with the people you love most while eating our favorite foods. However, with all the family gatherings between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, we are talking about a lot of food. So, it is not surprising if some of us choose to restrict the amount of food we eat at each gathering.
However, our co-workers, friends, and family can often be nosy and feel the need to make comments about what we have (or don’t have) on our plates. Who of us doesn’t have that one relative who feels it’s appropriate to say: “Is this all you’re eating?” or “Take another cookie, it won’t kill you!” and so on.
It may seem innocent, but these comments are shaming in any way. It’s no one’s business what you are eating and why. Unfortunately, and as you may already know yourself, it doesn’t stop others from making comments about what you are eating and how much you are eating.
When facing a comment of this sort, be honest. Clarify your health goals and important it is to you. Making your reasons for eating the way you do clear for others will make it harder for you to be so influenced by what your loved ones are saying. It will also help them understand that it’s your choices concerning your body. However, don’t feel the need to justify your actions. You don’t we anyone an explanation.
It may be hard to do, but brushing it off is another possible solution. If someone said something that upset you, you can always ignore it, walk away, or laugh it off. However, if it really bothers you, speak up. Let the other side know that their remarks hurt your feelings and upset you.
It is important to note, however, that you must make sure that your definition of ‘eating healthy’ doesn’t become unhealthy. These are a few of the possible signs: refusal to be flexible about your diet during the holidays, avoiding social gatherings where food is served, eliminating an entire food group from your diet, or feeling extreme guilt after eating something you categorize as unhealthy. Please, if any of it applies to you, reach for help.