It is that “most wonderful time of the year” when we are constantly confronted with messages about the magic of the holiday. The holidays mean different things to all of us, and although many look forward to gathering with family and friends, holiday gatherings can also be a source of stress. Many can easily identify the stress that comes with planning, cleaning, and cooking, or perhaps the holiday guests we are less over-joyed to see or loved ones we are missing. We might be less likely though to recognize the stress that holiday meals can create for some. Many of us, myself included, were raised to believe that celebrations are not just about good company, but also good food. As the holidays approach, I notice more and more people talking about eating, food, and bodies, and not always in helpful ways. Holiday meals, and even the holiday season, can become sources of fat talk (negative or demeaning comments about weight and shape we use when ‘bonding’), pressure around food, and unhelpful messages about bodies and diet culture. This can be very difficult for people in any body, regardless of size or shape, especially for those struggling with body image concerns and rigid rules about eating influenced by diet culture. What you can do to help avoid this:
∙Do not make negative or derogatory comments about your own body. For example, “I have a total muffin top in these pants, I need to lose weight.”
∙Do not moralize food. For example, “Ugh, I feel so full after that meal, I need to be good tomorrow.” Eating/food should not be moralized. Food is not good or bad, and we are not good or bad for eating something. Food is food.
∙Do not comment on what others are or are not eating.
∙Emphasize the time together rather than the meal.
∙Do not talk about weight gain, diets, or weight loss.
