issue<\/a>. Watching people fail to protect themselves during a pandemic in order to fit in has been an eye-opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s so easy to brush off someone else\u2019s dietary concerns as imagined or unimportant. It\u2019s tempting to think that just a little bite of a food they cannot eat won\u2019t hurt them. And it requires effort to become informed, provide alternatives, and be thoughtfully inclusive. Better to just make light of their concerns and move on, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you asked that of a Thanksgiving gathering as a direct question, I don\u2019t think anyone would answer, yes. Unfortunately, when the question is unspoken, behavior toward the restricted often indicates a yes. Teasing, pressuring, making rude comments, whispering, eye-rolling or huffing when someone doesn\u2019t take a dish are not supportive behaviors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I understand that it\u2019s hard to take some people seriously. My mom used to refuse chili at lunch because she was \u201callergic\u201d to tomatoes and eat pizza with red sauce for dinner. Who can possibly understand that logic? And with some food intolerances, maybe you can have a little without significant damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not true for people with celiac disease. Even though they won\u2019t die of anaphylactic shock at the table, even a little gluten can cause long-term damage. It is not reasonable to ask someone with celiac disease to just take a little bite simply because the effects are not immediately visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also not true for people who are following certain regimens because of drug interactions, chemo, or the possibility of anaphylaxis. Everyone is entitled to privacy regarding their health. A long explanation shouldn\u2019t be required in order for a request to be taken seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, the primary burden of communicating and adhering to dietary limits falls with the person who has restrictions. It is incumbent on them to communicate clearly and consistently. Without extra effort as host, you can help them not be tempted to cheat this Thanksgiving by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Welcoming them warmly without judgement.<\/strong> Assume that you don\u2019t know the whole story.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot treating their restrictions as a burden.<\/strong> Don\u2019t worry about providing alternative food. Answer questions about ingredients graciously or save labels for them to read. Accept that their plate may be sparsely filled.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHelping redirect the conversation. <\/strong>Interject with a quick apology and change of subject when someone else at the table becomes pushy or inquisitive in an unfriendly fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeing willing to learn more. <\/strong>If someone with restrictions is helping you in the kitchen, casually inquire what you would need to do differently for a dish you\u2019re preparing to work for them. The answer could be change the whole thing, but it might be that a simple adjustment would make that dish appropriate for them next year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTreat them as equal. <\/strong>Just because someone has to eat differently doesn\u2019t mean they are less important, less deserving, or less polite. Support begins with simple gestures like these. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs your knowledge grows, you may want to provide additional layers of care. Or you don\u2019t have to. Most of us are grateful for any level of support that makes it easier to avoid holiday cheating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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