Passover And Eating Disorders

Although the traditions of Passover have existed for centuries and are passed down from generation to generation, individuals who are in eating disorder recovery can find themselves in stressful situations that may be triggering or harmful due to the restriction of eating specific foods. For example, as Sarah Bateman writes for The Renfrew Center, “Leavened foods (such as bread) are not allowed for the entire holiday of Passover, and matzoh is eaten instead” (Bateman, 2022). Because of this, individuals in recovery may feel a lack of satisfaction in their meals because of their inability to eat foods such as bread or pasta.

There is also the issue of the Seder, a long-standing religious observation during Passover, in which family and friends gather to celebrate the holiday by reading stories from the Exodus and sharing a meal with traditional and authentic Jewish foods. However, two factors play into individuals’ difficulties in navigating the holiday while coping with managing their recovery. The first is the food element, in which the timing of the meals gets strategically planned throughout the evening, and the need to eat certain foods is part of the tradition. “The Passover Seder is a long ritual that can present multiple difficulties, including but not limited to, managing the timing of eating, feeling too hungry or too full, consuming the minimum required amounts of matzoh, drinking the 4 cups of wine, spending too much time with family, navigating difficult family relationships, or experiencing feelings of

loneliness for those who don’t celebrate with family or friends” (Bateman, 2022). The other element is the social aspect because if there are family members who may not understand what being in recovery means or cannot see friends if they do not share the same religion, it can be challenging and can often lead to feelings of loneliness and shame. 

However, there are a few helpful tips for navigating this Passover season while going through eating disorder recovery.

Tips for Navigating Passover In Eating Disorder Recovery

The first step towards having an enjoyable holiday is to create a self-care plan for yourself, where you can take the necessary steps, either during the morning or afternoon, to navigate how you are feeling and ease any thoughts of discomfort or anxiety. An article for Within Health provides steps on navigating the holidays while in eating disorder recovery, in which they write, “If you don’t already have one, now is the time to create a morning self-care routine that works best for you and considers your needs. Maybe you wake up and journal, or maybe you do yoga and recite positive affirmations” (Within Health, 2023).