You are not alone if you fear eating during the holiday season. Food guilt is common during this time of year and can affect your ability to enjoy the holidays.
Many people wrestle with self-doubt and low self-worth when confronted with foods not usually consumed on a daily basis — feelings of shame that usually stem from false narratives on appearance and self-worth pushed by social media and other media outlets.
If you experience food guilt, spend time over the holidays with family and friends you care about and know these feelings of discomfort will not last forever.
Reframe your negative thoughts that support food guilt and tell yourself, “I’m allowed to enjoy delicious food.”
Focus on your health, not on how your body looks.
And remember, if you have a healthy relationship with food and eat a well-balanced diet the rest of the year, allowing yourself to indulge a few times over the holiday will not affect your health.