Navigating Diet Talk this Holiday Season

Monday, November 21, 2022

Do the statements below look familiar? For many, the holidays can be stressful due to negative diet or body image talk at the dinner table. See below for strategies to steer conversations away from negative diet talk!

When you hear: "This pie is so good but I can't eat too much or I'll gain weight."

Respond with: "Let's focus on being grateful for this delicious food instead of feeling bad about what we're eating."

When you hear: "It looks like you've gained a little bit of weight. I've been trying intermittent fasting, it might work for you too."

Respond with: "Actually, I've been trying to prioritize my health over my body size. I enjoy eating a variety of foods that feel good to my body." (It's also okay to set boundaries and tell others that your body is not up for discussion)

When you hear: "You shouldn't eat so much. You might gain weight."

Respond with: "This food is delicious and feels good to my body right now. I'll stop eating when I'm comfortably full."

When you hear: "You should eat more! Everyone worked so hard on this food!"

Respond with: "I'm full and have eaten as much as I want. Please respect that."