From Guest Blogger & Registered Dietician, David Fisher, R.D. of Fish & Forage
True, people all over the world claim they will stick to their diets through the holidays. Most people won’t, especially when their reasons for dieting in the first place are vague and their goals, well, nonexistent. You, however, are different. You aren’t on a “diet,” but instead have chosen a specific way of eating to avoid allergens or to manage chronic disease (with the GAPS diet, for example). In cases like this you need to stick to your eating plan. Yet temptations abound during the holidays and mistakes, often costly, can happen. Here are five tips to stick to your plan through the holidays.
1. Have a plan - If you read only one tip, read this one.
This adage rings true: failing to plan is planning to fail. A plan can be as formal or informal as you’d like.
Some people will sit down and write a plan formally, while others will simply think it over for a few minutes. Both approaches are fine! Be sure to cover things like handling family gatherings, work parties, cravings, what you’ll do when presented with your favorite off-limits dessert/drink/side dish, etc. Get creative, but be thorough! Be sure to plan in safe treats to avoid feeling deprived and to have something to look forward to.
2. Bring food
This is the only sure fire way to know you’re safe eating the food. Most likely, no one will notice that you only ate what you brought, especially if you brought multiple dishes. Remember, you can’t be completely sure what ingredients someone has used in a dish. Even if you ask them, they might forget to mention that tablespoon of nut flour; or they may not realize that soy sauce is gluten-filled, or that the butter substitute they used actually contains dairy. So especially if you are highly allergic, bring your own food.
3. Eat before the party
Tell people you already ate. This may sound like a cop out, but it is believable on days like Christmas when people go from party to party.
4. Pull out the allergy card
When offered something off limits, revealing that you have an allergy to an ingredient is not only smart, but also very effective. People are becoming more aware of the different allergic or adverse reactions to food. If you’ve known the person for a while and this is new, explain that you recently discovered the problem.
5. Bring your auto-injector
If you are at risk of anaphylactic shock, remember your auto-injector/ Epi-Pen, just in case you ingest something unexpected that gives you an allergic reaction.
6. Make a commitment
It’s simple. Make a plan (step 1) and stick to it! Having the route mapped out makes it easy to commit to staying on the path. Challenge yourself and be proud when you succeed! A plan makes it much easier to stay safe and healthy.
If you are on a healing diet, and you need extra inspiration, hold yourself accountable by telling others about your commitment. Involving the threat of losing something precious (like money) may help. For example, tell your best friend about the plan and that you’ll give $100 to her (or perhaps charity) if you break your plan. Ultimately reminding yourself why you need to eat this way should help you push beyond any challenges.
Consider yourself ready to attack the holiday season even if you need to avoid certain foods. Remember that enjoying time with loved ones should be a major goal during the holidays and you can certainly achieve that no matter what you are eating. Happy holidays!
About the Author
David Fisher, R.D. is a registered dietitian with a deep interest in ancestral health. His own ongoing battle with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, an autoimmune condition, has given him a unique perspective and has allowed him to apply the principles of the autoimmune paleo protocol in order to maximize his own health. In his practice, he applies autoimmune paleo and other similar protocols to help patients manage autoimmune diseases.
David holds a bachelors in Management from St Louis University and completed my nutrition training, including dietetic internship, at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is a Registered Dietitian with the American Dietetic Association.