The holidays can definitely feel overwhelming when you follow a restrictive diet. This is the time of year when you are the least in control of what is being offered for meals, unless you are hosting every occasion. However, I’ve got a few great tips to help you navigate the holidays while sticking to your diet restrictions. Because the last thing we want is a flare during this time, am I right?
Here are a few typical scenarios where holiday celebrations and food may be a challenge:
Holiday Parties
Holiday parties are the hardest to navigate, in my opinion. These are typically either big gatherings with hors d’oeuvres or a large sit down dinner event. So let’s break these down a bit further because I’ve got different ideas for each.
A Large Gathering with Passed Hors D’oeuvres
When attending a large gathering with hors d’oeuvres, the best option is to eat a snack before you go. Most passed bites of food will almost always have ingredients that are inflammatory. Best case scenario is you find one option that works and stick with that. Don’t be afraid to ask the person passing the tray of food what you can eat. They probably won’t know the answer, but they can ask the head chef. I like to stand where the kitchen door is so I can catch someone and ask, then stay there and wait for them to come back. But either way, definitely eat something before you head to this party to avoid getting hangry and making a poor decision out of desperation.
A Large Sit Down Dinner
If you are attending a large, sit down dinner, you first need to find out who is planning the dinner. In this day and age, people are used to accommodating food sensitivities and preferences. So when you find the person who is ordering the food, ask them if it would be possible for them to provide you a meal that works for your dietary needs. If that seems too hard or uncomfortable, I would also eat before you go. You can always ask the caterer when you get there, but giving them a heads up will increase your chances of getting a meal you can eat.
Dinner at Someone’s Home
The holidays also involve eating at people’s homes. If you get invited to a party at someone’s house, be upfront about your dietary restrictions. Ask the host what dishes they plan to serve. Explain your food sensitivities and see if they can work with them. For people who aren’t used to dealing with ingredient substitutions, this may feel overwhelming for the host. If the host appears that way, offer to bring your own food or a dish to contribute to the meal. That way you will be able to eat at least one thing.
Eating Out
Lastly, the holiday season is a time for small gatherings with friends and eating out. This should be no different than eating out any other time of the year. But, if you are following an anti-inflammatory diet for the first time and haven’t ventured out yet, here are some easy things you can do to make this feel less overwhelming.
Look at the restaurant menu in advance. If it seems like there’s at least one option that could work for you, great. If you want to make sure about this assumption, call the restaurant. Tell them when you are coming in and what your dietary restrictions are. Ask if the chef will be able to accommodate you. Honestly, restaurants really appreciate the heads up. And they will be able to tell you yes or no before you go there for dinner. There’s nothing worse than eating out at a restaurant with no options. That happened to me a few months ago and it was not fun.
If the restaurant can’t accommodate you but you don’t want to back out of the plans, have a large snack before you go. There may be a side salad or some vegetables that you can nibble on so you don’t feel left out.
The holiday season is all about being prepared and not being afraid to ask the hard questions. It may seem really awkward at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. I also always leave a nice tip for the servers who really help make sure my meal is compliant for my dietary needs.
If you need more help managing your anti-inflammatory diet during this holiday season, please contact me to schedule a free call. Additionally, you can find more tips for surviving the holidays on my Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels.
