"Not Your Normal": Surprising Tips for Navigating Dietary Choices During Travel, Holidays, and Celebrations

It’s quite common for clients to cringe when handing me their food journals, explaining how “this isn’t normal for me, because…” they were celebrating a birthday, a holiday, or were on vacation. A couple of things come to mind when this happens: 1) They are used to their choices being judged, even if only by themselves, 2) They think of food as good or bad, and/or 3) There is a scarcity mindset around some foods. While I understand that choices made at these times may not be indicative of how they might eat with access to a kitchen or when not having to consider other people’s time and energy in the same way, I value looking at the food journals of clients during these times, because not only can they reveal their body’s responses to particular foods, but also can reveal their mindsets. 

An example: When I was a kid, at every celebration, I was told, “You’d better enjoy that today, because tomorrow we’re going on a diet.” I would gorge myself on sweets I normally wouldn’t have access to. I never paid attention to how they made my body feel (or maybe even thought the upset belly was my punishment for overindulging) nor even how they tasted or felt in my mouth. I just inhaled them while I could, because they were going away.

I just returned from a trip and while my choices were a bit limited than at home. I made sure that I set priorities that wouldn’t be too stressful and that would allow me to enjoy all of the activities planned for our visit. Sometimes, I ordered more food than I could consume, because I knew I’d want a little of something (like pancakes or oatmeal) but wanted the satiety and lasting energy that came from protein, fat, and nutrients.

Here are some ideas to consider when traveling, celebrating, or otherwise are in a situation you wouldn’t consider “normal.”

1)    What are your beliefs around food? Do you consider some choices “better” than others? What determines that? Is it an arbitrary “should” or information you’ve gathered from your own body? Do you believe some foods are only for certain occasions? If you gave yourself permission to have them any time, does it take away from the urgency to have them now or change the quantity you consume? 

2)    What are your priorities? Do you have a long list of foods you typically avoid due to how they feel in your body, but don’t want to worry about seeking the “perfect” foods while on vacation, dining out, or at parties? Have you identified “worth it” foods and “never” determined solely by how your body feels? (Personal example: my nevers are gluten due to Celiacs Disease and apples, as they may cause an anaphylactic reaction)

3)    Do you believe it’s now or never? Do you have a scarcity mindset around some foods? Diving into the root of those beliefs can help you challenge them. (Personal example: When the weather is cool enough, I carry a chocolate bar in my purse. The same bar can stay in there for weeks, because the urgency is removed. It’s there for when I truly want it. Typically, a small fraction of the bar will satisfy my desire for it and I know if I want more it’s there.) If it’s something present in a shared household and there’s a perceived urgency, because someone else may eat it all before you can do so on your own time. Setting aside a portion for yourself, inviting everyone else to enjoy the rest, can help alleviate that feeling.

4)    Remember: There are no wrong choices. I offer all of this for two reasons: to raise your own self-awareness and in hopes of empowering you to advocate for yourself, regardless of your choices.

If you have some personal experiences that are not addressed here, I welcome your input. I’m certain you are not the only person to have that concern.