Holidays are approaching and with them lots of socials; dining out, or in; parties with families and friends. And all that food! The “old” feel-good and comfort foods! What to do?
Well, if you are going to indulge in it all, or just in a few choice dishes OR stay completely raw – that is totally up to you. And it is a whole other discussion and to be covered in another blog by the way.
Today I will focus on when you want to stay with your fresh, energetic, colorful and healthy raw foods and how to then handle holiday eating.
IF you decide to stay raw – at least as much as possible – here are a few tips which might help when being invited to a holiday gathering or traditional dinner party.
Eat beforehand
It helps when you have fueled your body and mind with clean food before heading out and prevents you being tempted just because you arrive on an empty stomach.
Bring a dish
Bring a gorgeous dish and a generous amount. Sometimes people associate healthy and clean food with deprivation, so show that healthy eating is sharing wonderful foods. And do not make and bring multiple raw food dishes – your host does not want you to replace the dinner – only show up to it!
Remember the ingredients
Be prepared that everyone will want to know: “what’s in it?” So state the ingredients if they want the recipe, but do not necessarily mention that it is raw. Keep it cool.
Do not give a lecture
This is not the place for a speech about the raw food diet. You do not want to invite debate and negativity at the gathering. If someone asks you one-on-one, then it is another story.
And do NOT comment on what everyone else is eating
Just be grateful you have found out about the raw food lifestyle and be thankful you have been invited to this event. And you would like to be invited back again next year, right? So please keep your dogma to yourself and perhaps others will respond in kind.
The nice people won’t be of much help!
Your dear friends and family will not be there to help you, be prepared for this. “Oh, you MUST have some of this pie, and TASTE the homemade so-and-so etc!” Just say no graciously and love them back!
They might secretly want what you have; energy and health with a figure and complexion to prove it. Do not give them the victory they think they want – which is you eating “normally”- that is the same foods they are eating, so they can feel good again about their food choices.
Instead give them the beginning of the victory they need. The victory of your own example. If you can do it (change your diet and feel better for it) – they can too! And you have both won!
Focus on other activities
The holidays are not just about the foods. Really! Head outside to play with the kids, offer to help wash the dishes, organize a game, chat with someone who is older or who doesn’t know anyone there. They probably have an interesting story to tell, if you just ask. Be kind, not only to the host, but to the host’s guests and animals as well.
If you fall off the raw food wagon?
There is another wagon pulling up soon, just be prepared to jump aboard and do not look back.
Good luck, but most of all enjoy your party –
and have FUN!
By Åsa Paul-Johansson
On the Lime – Raw Foods
Fort Lauderdale area, Florida, USA
