The holidays are upon us! 

Did it sneak up on anyone else? This will be the second Thanksgiving that Thomas & I spend it on the road. I really enjoy our low-key version of this day, but of course I wish that we could also spend it with our families. 

So for any of you that have the big ‘ol traditional Thanksgiving with friends and family I have 5 tips for you on how to navigate the diet talk, feelings of guilt, and the inevitable stress that can arise with holiday eating. Give ‘em a read, and let me know in the comments which tip spoke to you the most! 

1.     IT IS A-OKAY TO EAT MORE FOOD THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD.Thanksgiving is literally centered around food. These may be foods that you don’t normally have access to, so EAT! Keep in mind that it is unpleasant to eat past the point of fullness, so take your time. I have never been to a thanksgiving that didn’t have leftovers, so remember that you can more than likely take some home. But do not fret if you eat more than your typical dinner, that is totally normal. 

2.     YOU DON’T NEED TO EARN YOUR MEAL.You are a human that deserves to eat, you do not have to “burn off” calories before or after a meal. If being active before a big meal feels good to your body, then hell yeah- Turkey Trot away! But don’t force exercise as a way to “earn” food, this is a sneaky form of dieting. 

3.     DON’T UNDER EAT ALL DAY BEFORE A BIG MEAL.This is setting you up for disaster. You’ll be hangry around friends and family leading up to the big meal. And when the meal is delayed by an hour so you uncle can watch the football game- you’ll be next level hangry. When you are super hungry it is almost impossible to actually enjoy a meal. You end up eating so quickly that you aren’t tasting the foods, and can wind up eating way past the point of fullness. You are better off eating before the big meal, so that you are not ravenous! 

4.     SET BOUNDARIES. When you are done, and your aunt Carol is pushing you to eat more, clearly tell her you are finished. I like the line “I enjoyed everything so much, and I know my body would feel unpleasant if I continued eating. I would love to take something home for later if I could!” Bam- you are being polite and clear. When your cousin Maggie is telling you how you should try intermittent fasting, because it is a lifestyle and not a diet, blah blah bullshit…. You can tell her to fork off, in the nicest way possible! “I know that diets actually harm my health and psyche more than help, so I am sticking with eating without rules.” It can feel really great to set boundaries, it is an act of having your own back. Remember you don’t have to explain or defend your choices. I like to simply change the subject when diet talk comes around!

5.     ENJOY! Give yourself permission to eat, savor, and enjoy your food. Introverts-give yourself permission to take breaks from friends & family to do something you enjoy to recharge. If you hate cooking, consider going out to eat! If you are hosting, allow friends and family help you to make your day enjoyable too! Don’t forget to keep in mind what matters during the holiday season. Enjoy your company, practice gratitude, and let people (and furry friends) know how much they mean to you. The laughs will be what you remember, not the slightly burnt sweet potato casserole. 

If you enjoyed these holiday tips, please, please, please share with a friend or leave a comment below!  I cannot tell you how much it means to me to be supported by all of you lovely people! I want to get the 21st Century RD message to as many people as I can, so we can take down diet culture, and start savoring our food again! Enjoy your holidays!