The holiday season brings Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s! As such, the decorations come out, the gifts get wrapped, and family and friends plan gatherings to celebrate the festivities. However, assigning morality to foods can damper the holiday spirit for those recovering from an eating disorder.
By: Regina Colie
What Is Food Moralization?
For starters, what is food moralization? How do we give food meaning? Is it something we do intentionally? More often than not, we assign labels to foods, deeming them “good” or “bad,” without knowing the full extent that this contributes to disordered eating. “Unfortunately, in our culture driven by the thin ideal and obsession with weight and body image, it may seem unrealistic to be able to eat free of these types of labels.” (Pono, 2022). With this, we are not allowing ourselves to enjoy our foods; instead, we are following moral codes about which foods are acceptable.
Furthermore, even if we choose not to engage in food moralization and practice the techniques of intuitive eating, the dinner table at family gatherings during the holidays becomes a place where comments surrounding food emerge. During these gatherings, either there is immense pressure from a loved one to try another piece of their holiday special, or family members across the table pick apart the number of calories they had during the meal. It is a double-edged sword, especially when navigating how to stop assigning labels to specific foods and get to a place of neutrality. “Food-shaming comes in many forms. Just as no one should judge a person’s dessert choices, they shouldn’t comment when others abstain from certain foods, either.” (Borresen, 2020). To fully enjoy all the love and joy the holiday season brings to people, here are some helpful tips on how to remove morality from foods.
Establishing A Neutral Relationship With Food
The first step in removing food moralization from your mindset is establishing a neutral relationship with food. A neutral relationship removes negative thoughts toward food, allowing you to enjoy your favorite meals. “It means giving yourself unconditional permission to eat all foods with no preset limitations, free of guilt and shame. In simple terms: food is food.” (Pono, 2022). During the holidays, families celebrate traditions by cooking and enjoying regular meals, such as turkeys, pumpkin pie, latkes, sufganiyot, and more. Removing judgments towards these foods allows you to eat without feeling guilty.
Changing Your Language Surrounding Food
Because of the standards that diet culture sets about how society views certain foods, we often label and associate certain foods with a negative connotation and others with a positive one. As such, traditional holiday meals are often haunted by these labels, making them less enjoyable. Try changing the type of language one uses surrounding food, giving them a more positive flair. For example, an extended family member brings “fun meals” and “special snacks” to help celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. Instead of saying to yourself, “I did not work out today. Therefore, I should not eat this, ” say, “I always have permission to eat food, and I do not need to work out to do so.” Once you shift your language, your relationship with food will begin to improve tremendously.
Set Boundaries, Cool Down, And Give Yourself Some “You” Time
Before any of the holiday celebrations, you have planned with family and friends unfold, remind yourself that you are allowed to set boundaries with your loved ones about the types of conversation you do and do not want to have surrounding food. If the conversation arises, feel free to excuse yourself and take a few minutes to break from the festivities. The holiday season is a time to reflect on the year, show gratitude and love, and reunite with the special people in your life. However, you must take a step back and care for your health when necessary.
While the holidays are supposed to be a time of togetherness, tradition, and merriment, it can feel stressful and isolating for those with an eating disorder. Let BALANCE help you navigate the holidays and set the stage for lasting recovery. Our 12-day winter intensive program can help you jump-start your recovery. Our exclusive winter eating disorder treatment program fits conveniently within your winter break schedule, allowing you to invest in transformative care. Connect with our admissions team and learn more about our 12-day winter intensive program here.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is currently pursuing her Masters in General Psychology at The New School For Social Research. She is interested in working with women who have eating disorders and postpartum depression. Upon her graduation from Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development. Her previous work has been featured in Project HEAL, BALANCE, Olive Branch Nutrition, and Nourishing NY.
References
Pono, A. (2022, March 15). Food Moralization: What It Is and How to Stop It. Central Coast Treatment Center. https://www.centralcoasttreatmentcenter.com/blog-1/food-moralization
Borresen, K. (2020, November 7). How To Deal When People Mock You For Eating Healthy Over The Holidays. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mocking-eating-healthy-holidays_l_5de597c2e4b00149f7346696
