Eat in the Festive Season
Just eat. Block out all the noise telling you to eat any specific way.
‘Eating well in the festive season’ can be stressful diet culture language.
Food does not have a moral value. Access to both nutritious foods and time for
movement are privileges and a small part of what contributes to health outcomes.
Certainly, what you do for one day, week or month of the year, has less impact than what you do the rest of the time.
It is also important to remember to maintain boundaries and not let anyone comment
on what you (or your loved ones) are eating. This is also a reminder to not comment on
anyone else’s eating or push people to try foods. In my house, even if a lot of effort has
gone into cooking, there is no pressure to even try the end result. This is out of respect
for each other’s autonomy and sensory feeding differences.
It is also OK to think about your boundaries if you know you are going to be at a social
event with people you would not choose to socialise with. Your mental health is just as
important as anyone else’s (including grandma’s) so if you need to leave a conversation
that is upsetting you, leave.
If the festive season is a stressful time for you because of diet culture messaging,
socialising, or any other reason, please know that you are not alone. If you enjoy the
festive season, great, but be mindful it can bring up a lot of emotions for others.
Do the festive season in a way that is enjoyable for you. Keep an eye out for Casey’s
article next month on navigating the diet culture messaging that comes with the start of
a new year.
You can find Kate in store every Monday and some Saturdays. For more in-depth
support please contact her at k.webbe@live.com / 0431 423 635 / @plenanutrition on