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How to Survive the Holidays with Food Restrictions

November 8, 2014 by Cara



As Thanksgiving and Christmas are shortly approaching, I am quickly realizing that it means one thing: FOOD. Okay, okay, so clearly the holidays mean more than just food but if I am honest with myself, food truly is of great emphasis. So what does this mean for someone who has food restrictions? Whether you are gluten-free, vegan, Paleo, sugar-free, you name it, the holidays can provide anxiety for your new way of eating. I wanted to do something a little different in this post and take a moment to share with you some of my tricks and tips on How to Survive the Holidays with Food Restrictions; what I have learned over the past few years and what I am still learning as I personally have entered this brand new way of eating.

 How to Survive the Holidays with Food Restrictions

Here are my 6 Tips on How to Survive the Holidays with Food Restrictions:

 

1. Don’t Assume Everyone Knows What Gluten Is

Way back in the day, I went quasi-vegetarian. I’ve never been really good at following any way of eating really (hence the “quasi” status) but at this time in my life I was introducing a life of vegetables into my diet–one that I had never experienced before. I remember being at a restaurant where, for some reason when you make a dietary change, everyone has to ask you tons of questions about what it is that you CAN eat. So there I was at the restaurant being grilled by my father about what I could even eat on the menu. He said I could just eat the chicken dish at which I looked at him perplexed and said, “Dad, that’s meat.” To which he replied that it wasn’t. Meat was beef. Chicken was, well, chicken. At that moment I understood that just because you tell someone that you don’t eat meat doesn’t mean they fully understand what is under the umbrella of “meat.” And that is okay! If you are someone who is not suffering with an autoimmune disease or are eating a specific way for health or moral reasons that require you to eat differently than most people, you’re not going to know all the ins and out of those food restrictions. Don’t expect them too either–most people still don’t know what gluten really is and why some people need to avoid it. Rather use it as a teachable moment to explain and educate. This is also a great way to dispel rumors and false information about your lifestyle.

 

2. Offer to Bring Your Own Dish

Not only will this help you know that the food you are eating is safe for you but it is also a great way to show others that cooking with different ingredients doesn’t mean that it has to taste like armpit hair and tree bark. For the longest time my family thought that my baking gluten, egg, and dairy-free was strange and they turned their noses to the idea of it. It was a great moment when they were able to taste my Pumpkin Muffins (recipe from my cookbook, Decadent Gluten-Free Vegan Baking) and I swear to the G that my brother said they were the best pumpkins muffins he has ever had. He was gob-smacked. *I* was gob-smacked (Sorry, I’ve been watching a lot of Tabitha Takes Over and am allowing her vocab to permeate mine). It was a victory for me that day because they finally realized that having food restrictions wasn’t the end of the world AND it still tastes great, if not better! Even if they don’ come over to “the dark side” and eat like you do after that one bite, at least they will know that you eat rather well (and maybe the teasing will stop, wink).

 

3. Find Smart Alternatives to Your Favorites

This is where it’s going to get good.  One of the smartest things that I have taken way from this new lifestyle of eating has been to find similar alternatives to what I used to enjoy eating. For instance, I am a snacker and I love chips. I love them so much. I love the crunch. I love the saltiness. I love the satisfaction of biting down into each piece. So since going off of corn, I miss them dearly. People will say stuff like, “Well, just eat carrot sticks or celery if you want a crunch” of to which I say, well I don’t, I just look at them with one eyebrow raised. I’m sorry. That is not similar at all. Instead I created an Everything Cracker recipe that I found was not only suitable for my dietary needs but it truly satisfied that need for a salty bite. So if you are going to bring a dish for the holidays or even offer to host the event at your house, know that there are great recipes out there that can still taste good while honoring your lifestyle. The way to stick to a dietary change is to find things that match closely to what you once enjoyed that are within the confines of your limitations. Wait until you see the Thanksgiving Dinner I have planned for the next 2 weeks for you! You can STILL eat:

Grain-Free Stuffing

Grain-Free Thanksgiving Stuffing 2

 

Mashed Cauliflower “Potatoes” and Gravy

Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes with Vegan Gravy

 

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

 

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Wild Rice

Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash Circles 

And even a Grain-Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie!

Paleo Vegan Mini Pumpkin Pies

…despite the fact that you are vegan, someone who cannot eat gluten, follows the Paleo diet, or even if you are battling candida! Stick around and I will show you how.

 

4. Come Prepared

If you are anything like me, my hunger tends to attack at the  most unpredictable times. Especially if I am running errands I make sure to bring with me a bottle of water, a green apple and raw almonds for the road for those moments that the not-so-nice Cara rears her ugly head. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be no different either. Consider taking some safe-to-eat snacks, especially if the unexpected happens. Always be prepared and stuff those purses (or man purses) with food that can satisfy either the deepest of cravings or those times when hunger strikes.

 

5. Be Gracious

9 times out of 10 people just want to be as supportive as possible so if Aunt Suzy makes you a Honey Butter Pie even though you have told her 80 times already that you are a vegan, don’t  be rude and accuse her of trying to force animal products down your throat. Go back to #1 on this list.: Don’t assume people know what gluten is (or fill in the blank). They either forget (despite you telling them numerous times) or they just don’t know. That is, unless they do know and truly are trying to sabotage you. If that’s the case, you need to stop visiting Aunt Suzy. But like I said, it’s typically never done intentionally so find a polite way to refuse (or just say that you aren’t hungry) and always remember to be grateful to your host.

 

6. Enjoy Yourself!

I know that what I am about to say is going to be a little bit of a shock but yes, there is more to life than just food. I know. Go ahead. Throw popcorn at me (careful, I just might have to pick it off the ground and eat it though!) Take a moment to be grateful for the people in your life and remember that the holidays extend far beyond just food. Smile. Laugh. Enjoy yourself!


 

 Namastasty

YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

  • Allergen-Friendly Baking: Guide to Gluten-Free FloursAllergen-Friendly Baking: Guide to Gluten-Free Flours
  • Your Guide to Allergen-Friendly Baking: Egg SubstitutesYour Guide to Allergen-Friendly Baking: Egg Substitutes
  • Dairy Substitutions GuideDairy Substitutions Guide
  • Guide to Sugar and SweetenersGuide to Sugar and Sweeteners

Filed Under: Anti-Candida Friendly, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Holiday, Paleo

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Previous Post: « Grain-Free Everything Crackers
Next Post: Grain and Egg-Free Pie Crust »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan Holdman

    December 11, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    Great tips! Since you love chips try Lays Simply potato chips. I live in MI and buy them at Meijer, Kroger and Hillers. Merry Christmas!

  2. Sophia

    November 18, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    Love this post, especially the not assuming that everyone knows certain things. I am the room mom in one of my kids preschool classes and for our thanksgiving feast I asked everyone to label if their dish contains dairy, meat, gluten, or eggs due to the variety of food restrictions in our class. I also gave them examples of things to make sure they don’t miss something. It totally can be hard but taking steps before and offering to bring a dish always works for us! Plus my family especially is SO supportive and always makes many veggie based dishes. Great post!!

  3. Leska

    November 16, 2014 at 3:15 am

    Thanks for this! It’s going to be my first dairy free/gluten free Christmas this year, and I’ve been wondering for a few weeks now how I’m going to handle it. I’ll keep your advice in mind. 🙂

  4. Ashlee

    November 11, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    I love this post! I always bring my own dish and make enough for others to enjoy it as well. Most of the time, I never have any leftovers because people love what I bring. And then I get the typical “oh my god that’s vegan?!”

  5. Kat

    November 11, 2014 at 9:26 am

    Thanks so much for sharing this, Cara! <3 So many great tips for surviving the holidays!

    I'm super excited about your Thanksgiving recipes too – already drooling over here! 😉

  6. Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy

    November 10, 2014 at 6:03 pm

    Such wisdom right here. Being on the SCD has made me adopt the same food principles!

  7. Katie C

    November 10, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    Lots of good stuff in this article, but I need these recipes NOW!!! Esp. the grain free pumpkin pie one……I’m going to subscribe now so I don’t miss any…..

  8. HippyMom Elizabeth

    November 9, 2014 at 4:55 am

    🙂

    • Cara

      November 10, 2014 at 8:24 am

      Right back at ya 🙂

  9. Christine

    November 8, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    These are really good tips! I found that it wasn’t until I started bringing along dishes for everyone to share that people started to feel more comfortable with my diet changes and interestingly, more supportive. I think it takes time for people to understand what gluten is/what it’s in/etc but you’re totally right – most people want to be supportive and just need to know how to do that. I just read your post about your health issues and subsequent diet changes. I feel for you as I went through something similar last year – after a few months of a totally grain/bean/nightshade etc-free diet I finally felt good again. There were some permanent changes but in the end feeling healthy was worth it. I hope that you continue to feel more well. Those upcoming holiday posts of yours look fantastic!

    • Cara

      November 10, 2014 at 8:25 am

      That is so true Christine! I think once people taste what you eat, they realize that it’s not so bad after all or maybe as intimidating or scary as they thought.

      PS How did you go through the process of discovering you needed to go grain/beans/nightshade free?

  10. Your Biggest Fan!

    November 8, 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Thank you for your patience and for teaching us!
    XOXOXOX

    • Cara

      November 10, 2014 at 8:26 am

      Love you lots woman! I cannot wait to squeeze you!!!

  11. Beth

    November 8, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    Thank you for this! The holidays have always been difficult being vegan among a meat-eating family, and this year I get to add celiac on top of it, so it will be a challenge. I always bring a dish anyway with a Vega meal bar stashed in my purse, too. 🙂

    I made your Oatmeal-Cranberry cookies for my husband today, and he loves them! I still can’t handle oats. 🙁

    • Cara

      November 10, 2014 at 8:27 am

      You are so welcome Beth! Sounds like you are already well-prepared 🙂 And YAY for the cookies!! Love that so much, xo.

Trackbacks

  1. » Sunday Reading 11-09-14 #10 One Raw Bite says:
    November 9, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    […] wrote a quick and helpful post about surviving the holiday season. I am planning on posting my own similar […]

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Welcome, I’m Cara! At Fork and Beans you will find creativity at every corner. From snack ideas, to holiday fun–even crafts and activities to do with your kids. If you are a parent (or just love fun food), you’ve come to the right spot! Come check out the latest idea I’ve made for my family and stay awhile, won’t you?

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