How can this be already? The end of the year is here, and the holidays are approaching. And who doesn’t love to gather with friends and family and enjoy a good meal followed by desserts and treats. But when you suffer from gastric problems, Irritable bowel syndrome, gastric reflux, indigestion, oh I could go on and on… Sometimes the holidays are not something we look forward too.
There is a pressure associated with the holidays. Is the pressure from my pants being too tight? Did I eat something that didn’t agree with my digestive tract and now I’ve got this uncomfortable bloat. Maybe it was the wrong choice in pants. Maybe I should just nonchalantly walk outside and purge some gas. Unbutton the pants, untuck the shirt. They will never notice.
Is it people pressure or gastric distress
It is a pressure from pleasing people (and quite possibly my pants). But especially people pleasing during the holidays, you want everyone to be joyful and content. Reflect upon the year with a positive vibe. You don’t want to throw a wrench in that by telling Aunt Sally you aren’t going to eat her cranberry sauce this year. But, you know there are foods you need to stay away from. You also know if you eat a disagreeable to you food you will be miserable for the remainder of the stay.
It is hard to have dietary restrictions at any time of the year, but the holidays are the worst. I can hear my mom, “did you try my (fill in the blank) dish?” Oh the quilt. But then you have the thought of spending the remainder of the day in the bathroom. Or the five hour trip home constantly stopping in gastric distress, that should be enough for you to make the pass on the certain dish. Mom would not want that for you. I bet if you mentioned that maybe said certain dish doesn’t agree with your stomach, mom would be understanding of your pass. Often we put a lot of pressure and worry on our choices when surrounded by the ones who are supposed to be the most understanding of us and usually all it takes is a little communication and no one’s feelings are hurt.
Eat strategically
Realistically, you cannot avoid food all together. Make a plan to eat small meals throughout the day and continue to snack on stomach-friendly foods throughout the event. Eat slowly and take breaks, so you are not causing a shock to your digestive tract. A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research showed a clear link between binge eating and gastrointestinal symptoms consistent with IBS in both men and women. In addition to small meals and skipping seconds, practice mindful eating.
Know your trigger foods and be extra cautious with dishes you are not familiar with. It is okay to turn a dish down, no thank you is always an answer. Desserts can be tempting especially when you see others indulging. Remind yourself that your body is sensitive and you will be much better off in the long-run if you forego, or again definitely pick and choose which ones are safe for you.
If there are enough people, no one is really paying attention to you, so skip the dressing with the celery (trigger food). Skip the ice cream that tops the dump cake (the skipping of this one makes me want to cry but so does the outcome if I eat it).
Food is Always in Your Control
No matter how much pressure you feel is on you when it comes to food, know that it is ultimately in your power what you do and don’t consume. Be shameless in your choices and confident in the habits you are trying to build. In the end, most people don’t care about your eating decisions to the degree we think they do. The temptation and the social influence will usually pass within moments. You will move on to talking about that crazy cousin with the purple hair that lives out of state, you know the one.
Do you guys have any for sure holiday food triggers you stay away from?
What does your mom always make that she insists you eat?
Any fun holiday traditions? Or do you play it low key thru the holidays?
