With autumn weather knocking on our door, you better believe that the holiday season is coming up quicker than you think. And if there’s anything worse than trying to explain your Paleo diet to friends and family on a regular basis, it’s facing that battle during the holidays. Whether it’s Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it)—that one meal of the year where it seems almost sacrilegious not to eat out-of-the box stuffing, Campbell’s cream of mushroom green bean casserole, and homestyle gravy—there’s no doubt about it: Autumn and winter are the seasons of baking! Now that we’ve made you all good and hungry, here are a few strategies for facing the holidays and keeping up those paleo promises.
MAKE IT YOURSELF
Going to Grandma’s for those holiday dinners is probably one of the biggest stress items on your list because it means potentially offending those who think you should be having two helpings of their famous mash and stuffing. By abstaining, you’re never going to fully please everyone. Bringing along an item to share that’s absolutely paleo-friendly, on the other hand, not only will give you something to munch on but also may help quiet the objections being voiced around you
PLAY THE HOST
If celebrations tend to float around, consider volunteering to put on this year’s feast. Not only can you provide a table full of paleo-friendly foods, but you can also show your family and friends how easy it is (with a few alterations) to make a meal that’s delicious as well as healthy. And when your favorite Aunt Mary asks for the recipe on your famous Paleo Potatoes, chances are, next time dinner’s at her place, those babies might just make it on the menu.
TAKE IT IN STRIDE
We all know at least one food-pusher in the family, whether it’s your mother-in-law, your sister, or that one crazy uncle. But the truth about food pushers is that it’s not usually about you; it’s about them. They could be A.) Wanting to feel better about themselves: they see you looking and feeling good and they want a piece of the pie; B.) Worried about you: without knowing how a balanced paleo diet actually works, they may fret about your limited diet; or C.) Trying to make sure you appreciate them: part of your mum’s feeling of value may come from seeing others enjoy her cooking (namely, those non-Paleo-friendly strudel bites). The major point to remember in these situations is that it’s OK to say, “No thank you.” You don’t have to explain your diet or your reasons. But if you can detect why is person is being a food pusher, you may be able to get to the heart of the matter and reassure them in a way that fixes the problem beneath the dumplings.
