Ditching the Holiday Food Noise
- Cristina Luibil, MS, RD, LDN
- Nov 8
- 2 min read
We should enjoy celebrations- and the food that comes with them- without food noise, guilt, shame, or restriction.
Written by Emily Edling and Cristina Luibil, MS, RD, LDN. Edited by Sabrina Stadelman.
This time of year, we are being bombarded with messages about the upcoming holiday season. There are so many wonderful things about this season. But with it comes a lot of labeling foods “good or bad”, casual talk of weight changes with “indulging” in holiday foods, and comments about all the sugar around this time of year. We don’t want to add more noise to the inboxes that are already saturated with messages about what to eat or what not to eat this time of year.
Keeping on the recent topic of gentle nutrition, we need to remember that special foods are part of every culture – for wonderful reasons! Celebrations and the special foods that are associated with them are a communal way for us to connect with our loved ones. The special foods we have at this time of year help us mark the occasions within our culture and our families. In addition to music, decorations, storytelling, and special clothing, our celebration foods contribute to the overall experience of our festivities. Unfortunately, we can sometimes associate enjoying these special foods with some guilt for enjoying them.
One of the Intuitive Eating principles is simply unconditional permission to eat and enjoy your food. Instead of feeling shame for eating the special foods your family and culture offer this time of year, we hope you fully enjoy how those foods are special and embrace those foods as part of your celebration.
What foods are special to you and your traditions?
How do you meaningfully connect with your loved ones over food this time of year?
What are some of your tools for protecting your mind against moralizing our celebration foods this time of year?
If you need help answering these questions, we are here for you:
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Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for general educational and informational purposes only. It may not be tailored to your specific health needs as it is written here. This content is not intended to replace personalized medical advice, nutrition counseling, or medical nutrition therapy. Any recipes or suggestions provided are meant to inspire and should be used at your discretion. Always consult with your own registered dietitian, physician, or healthcare provider before making changes to your nutrition, lifestyle, or treatment plan. If you choose, Aterra Nutrition would be happy to help you in your own, individual nutrition and intuitive eating journey.