Holiday Edition | IE Responses to Diet Culture
Spending time with family over the holidays reminds many of us that Diet Culture is still thriving. Grounding ourselves in the principles of intuitive eating prepares us for how to react when conversation turns to body and food shaming. By rehearsing how these moments feel in our bodies and how to respond ahead of time, we’re likely to feel calmer and more empowered.
Familiar Scenarios (my clients’ and my own)
Diet Culture Comment: Are you going to eat all of that?
Intuitive Eater Response: Probably. It looks really good.
Diet Culture Comment: I’m going to have to start my diet tomorrow.
Intuitive Eater Response: Silence.
Diet Culture Comment: Are you sure you want seconds? (nervous laughter)
Intuitive Eater Response: I’m working on trusting my body more, and yes, I do.
Diet Culture Comment: Dear, let’s you and I have the low-fat version I made instead.
Intuitive Eater Response: I know you want what’s best for me, and it would help my mental health if you didn’t comment on what I ate.
These moments are hard which is why we need to prepare ahead of time.
Recognizing that the people making these comments are struggling with their own relationships to food and their bodies doesn’t take away the sting, and yet it can help us bring in compassion for them. I’m still learning this, but I know that being reactive in these moments makes me feel worse afterwards.
A Holiday Experiment
When you notice a comment has triggered you, pause for a second or two and breathe slowly to calm your nervous system. Notice how in this space you created you can choose how to respond.
What Diet Culture-fueled comments and scenarios can you prepare for over the holidays?
How does imagining that scenario feel in your body?
How can you practice calming yourself ahead of time?
What responses can help you move forward?
Rehearse them!
Dieting and diet culture wouldn’t make sense if we simply accepted that people come in all different sizes.
Virgie Tovar
