Really worried about thanksgiving

My suggestion is to eat a couple bites of turkey (that is, if you really don't like it) and smile.

elphie754 wrote: »

I have severe food allergies so I can't eat what other people bring to thanksgiving. What I do is I make my own prepackaged meal and just tell people no thanks, I brought my own when asked if I'd like something.

Oh, if it's allergies then, do it. Just tell them.

Well I think it is the anxiety speaking... you've been at paleo a long time and one day off will not get in the way of your overall progress. I think you have a couple good routes - one would be to problem-solve how to eat paleo that day and talk with your mom ahead of time to let her know your plan (and be assertive if needed), the other would be to use it as a chance to practice being more flexible with your eating on special occasions and getting right back to paleo the next day.

I'm afraid also, the dinner I'm going to goes BIG. I will probably have some salmon and skip all unnecessary fat, all high carbs (bread), all the chocolates (save them for later date), put more salad with no dressing on plate, and watch the sodium/ then secretly go to the restroom just to track myfitnesspal. I want to not eat until the dinner to eat in nice portions. ( I'll plan to serve everything size less than my fist)

Even with a typically restrictive paleo diet, I don't see the issue with the majority of foods there?

And remember, that it isn't the type of food which makes you gain or lose weight but the quantity so even if you do eat something not "paleo" then as long as your don't over consume by a lot then it doesn't matter.

And remember that it is only one meal. Unless you can eat A LOT, then there will be minimal change.

I'm anxious about the holiday season as well. This time last year was the beginning of the end for me, I gained 20lbs.. But I'm determined to go into this season with a plan. I'm a vegetarian so I understand restrictions. I plan to practice portion control and allow myself to enjoy my family. Plus I think I'll go workout before dinner so I'm more prone to using self control for the remainder of the day.

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Why don't you just make a steak or fish dish as well? If you make a side, a dessert, and a main course, you'll have enough of your food to eat. It will be expensive to basically cook enough of multiple things you'll eat for everyone, but if you really want to, you'll be able to make a Thanksgiving meal out of just the items you brought. Plus, it'll make you look good for being so helpful with the cooking. Take little portion of others' foods to be polite and only eat a little or mash them around so it looks like you've eaten them.

One day in your diet isn't worth making a whole side of your family resent you, so do your best to be polite about it.

It's one meal and no one probably pays much attention to what you eat, unless you yourself make a big deal of it.

You can't have any gravy while eating paleo because... the little bit of flour in it? That seems unnecessarily restrictive.

I have a 5 mile run scheduled for Thanksgiving and the day after because I want turkey and dressing and gravy over everything LOL

Move to Canada. Thanksgiving already happened, so you'll have missed it.

SueInAz wrote: »

I get the anxiety, but really... it's one day. My brother eats Paleo, too, but he joins in at family meals and just picks and chooses the things he wants to eat. No one makes a big deal about it. If you don't really like turkey, take a small piece, no gravy. Then eat plenty of the side you're bringing and anything else on the table that fits your normal diet. If you aren't comfortable explaining your diet to your family, if anyone asks, just tell them jokingly that "you're watching your girlish figure". Really, if your plate looks full of food I can't imagine that anyone is going to be watching exactly what's on there.

This. If folks - even family - are openly judging the contents of your plate on Thanksgiving, politely tell them to mind their beeswax.

LolBroScience wrote: »

elphie754 wrote: »

I have severe food allergies so I can't eat what other people bring to thanksgiving. What I do is I make my own prepackaged meal and just tell people no thanks, I brought my own when asked if I'd like something.

Here is your out.

That wasn't the OP. Are you saying she should lie and tell her family she has severe food allergies? Seems easier to just tell them you're eating paleo.

WalkingAlong wrote: »

LolBroScience wrote: »

elphie754 wrote: »

I have severe food allergies so I can't eat what other people bring to thanksgiving. What I do is I make my own prepackaged meal and just tell people no thanks, I brought my own when asked if I'd like something.

Here is your out.

That wasn't the OP. Are you saying she should lie and tell her family she has severe food allergies? Seems easier to just tell them you're eating paleo.

DERP. That's what I get for not drinking coffee on Monday morning. Disregard my food allergy comment.

Its one meal for a holiday that is only once a year. Instead of letting your anxiety take over, just eat what you want. One day will not mess up what you already have going on, unless you allow it to after that. Enjoy the day and go back to paleo the next day.

If that is something that you just will not do, then just stop thinking about it until the day comes and the food is laid out on the table. At that time you just eat what you can.