Letting Yourself Indulge (And Not Feeling Guilty About It) — Part Two
(TW: eat*ng disorders, disordered eat*ng, body image, etc.)
I’ve written about this before (thus, the “part two” subtitle of this post), but it remains important, especially as we enter the season of holidays and celebration. Let me re-state this: it’s okay to let yourself indulge in good food and drink in times of celebration and to allow those things (food and drink) to enhance in your joy in those moments. Let me explain—
Indulging over the holidays: celebrating life, family, friendship and joy with food and drink
In most cultures, food and drink are presented during times of celebration to enhance our enjoyment of those times. As the girl who used to shy away from the best parts of the meal because they were too “indulgent” (lol) and as the girl who still struggles with her own level of disordered eating, I’m writing this as a reminder for myself and for everyone else to say this— it’s okay to indulge, and it’s especially okay (and even more fun!) to indulge in good food and drink during times of joy and celebration around the holidays with friends, family, etc.
Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween for me without some Reese’s Pumpkins and other candied delights, for example. A day at the pumpkin patch wouldn’t be the same for me without splitting a half-dozen apple cider donuts and a hot cup of cocoa with my husband as we shop for the perfect gourd-geous addition to our Halloween decor. Christmas and The New Year wouldn’t be the same without my mother’s famous “peanut butter blossom” cookies, topped with a Hershey’s Kiss— oh, and let’s not forget about the Thanksgiving mac’n’cheese my grandma serves up (which is DELICIOUS), as well as the many fun, yummy food and drink options available at Halloween, Friendsgiving, Christmas and other holiday parties all season long!
The pumpkin patch at Linvilla Orchards last year— me, posing in front of pumpkins, moments before diving into a half-dozen apple cider donuts during our last trip there!
My point is this— it’s okay to indulge sometimes, and it’s especially fun to indulge in times of celebration and, get this, not feel guilty about it. As someone who struggles with disordered eating I’m not saying it’s easy by any means— I understand that it’s downright hard to get this “it’s alright” narrative into your head after years of experiencing feelings of guilt and shame over food— but it’s important. Feelings of guilt and shame should never be associated with eating, period. You should relish in the celebratory moments in which you’re offered good food, drink, and good company any time of year, but especially during those special, culturally significant moments (like holidays, weddings, other celebrations, etc.)
The long and short of it is this— this time of year can be full of food and boozy celebrations, and ya know what? That’s okay. As long as you’re honoring your dietary restrictions (like not eating too much gluten if you have a gluten sensitivity, as that can make you feel uncomfortable), why worry? Eat that cookie, y’all. Drink that punch that your mom makes that you love so much at the holiday party. And don’t feel bad about it.
You deserve good things, and if it enhances your joy and adds to your celebration (without being detrimental to your health, which the occasional cookie, cake, and holiday feast is not), then enjoy it. I know I’ll be enjoying it this season as we celebrate togetherness (for the first time since COVID-19 began) with friends, family, and the like.
Xoxo, MM.