5 Tips to Address Social Pressure Around Food
One of the common themes that come up when I work with clients and definitely when I lead my groups is the social pressure to indulge in foods and beverages you may not want to be partaking in. In the column of pros and cons about this past year, the absence of such social pressures which can be quite stressful go into the pro column.
Now let me be clear… I’m not referring to times when you’re going into an occasion knowing you’re going to indulge and enjoy things you don’t normally have. That’s great. It’s important to celebrate and enjoy life.
It’s equally important to strengthen our ability to decline when we don’t want to indulge or when doing so will cause us harm because of our health issues or food sensitivities. When did it become rude to say “no thank you”?
What happens when we abandon ourselves in order to take care of someone else’s feelings? Somehow the idea that it’s rude to say no to an offering has been so deeply ingrained it’s common for people to eat things that don’t agree with them or derail their goals rather than saying “No thank you”.
Here’s a common scenario I think you’ll be able to relate to.
You’ve been taking great care of yourself, reducing sugar, alcohol and inflammatory foods. You’re starting to feel great… you've dropped that 5lbs that’s been your nemesis, you’re feeling less inflamed and overall your energy and mood is so much better.
You then go out to eat with a friend or to a family dinner. Maybe you’re asked to share a pitcher of margaritas or an order of chips and salsa. Perhaps a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. You don’t want to appear rude or like a Debbie Downer so you go along with it, not because you really want it but just to be agreeable and you don’t want to make your friend or family feel bad about their choices.
Once in a while, not a big deal. But if you multiply this by several times a week it’s not long before that 5lbs starts to creep back on, you start feeling more irritable and sluggish and soon you’re in the grips of sugars constant call. It becomes easy to see how this path leads you feeling off center pretty quickly.
When we reframe what we eat away from a diet and into a lifestyle choice it becomes a powerful mindset to hold.
Here are 5 tips to help you the next time you feel social pressure to eat or drink something you don’t want to:
If you feel like you’re being put in a position of needing to explain your dietary choices, keep it focused on your health rather than having anything to do with a “diet” or weight. When the focus stays on health and how much better you feel it typically keeps this conversation short. When all else fails, tell them it causes diarrhea… that usually shuts people up!
Plan ahead… if it’s a potluck, bring something that will suit your needs. If you’re being hosted, let your host know ahead of time about your dietary restrictions. While you may feel inhibited to do so, think of it this way… by sharing with your host your dietary needs, you’re allowing them the time to plan and take care of you as their guest. This makes your host feel good about herself.
Don’t go hungry. If you have a meal ahead of time, you won’t put yourself in the position of feeling famished and reaching for things you don’t want to be.
Assess the food before digging in. Look for all the things that you can have and don’t be shy to inquire about ingredients when there are things you know will cause you discomfort.
When it comes to alcohol and not wanting to draw attention if you’re not partaking… having a drink in a wine or champagne glass is a great solution. It also makes it more fun for you.
Are you feeling off track and wanting support getting back to center? The 21 Day Purification Program is a great way to reset yourself. Click here to get on the waitlist for my next group.