Navigating Holiday Meals
I was talking to a client yesterday and we discussed how difficult it can be navigating Jewish holidays with stomach issues and for most of us, food sensitivities. I want to acknowledge that feeling this way is normal!
Food is not just food, it's tied to religion, emotion, celebration, comfort, family and so much more. If there are certain things you love at holiday meals, I encourage you to eat them; however, if you know they will make you sick, try to stay away. I put together a list of some things to consider prior to Passover tomorrow.
Use digestive enzymes to avoid any issues when eating food that is not cooked by you
Drink your lemon water/ACV/tea prior to the meal so you don't enter the buffet starving (this typically leads to overeating)
Avoid your top triggers, for me I will likely have a bite of dairy but I will absolutely not eat gluten because it makes me so sick, everyone is different here so listen to your gut see what I did there ;)
Focus on other things you are enjoying about the holiday like rituals, family time, or perhaps a night inside with no distractions. This helps remove the emphasis on food and helps us cherish other parts of the holiday
Take a deep breath before eating to ground yourself and put your body in parasympathetic mode (rest and digest)
I noticed I used to hit the buffet first, scarf my food down then go for seconds when people were just settling on their first plate, if this resonates with you, try going towards the end of the buffet so you have time to scope out the food and pick what looks good to you
I suggest avoiding matzah - it's a big binder and can provoke constipation, if you are going to indulge keep an eye on portion so you don't wake up full, stuffed, and constipated on Sunday
Eat your normal meals during the day, just because you have an exciting dinner at night does not mean you can skip food during the day
If you overeat, that is OK. One binge never changed a body, get back on track the next day
