Many of us are restricting our food choices these days. For a variety of reasons. For example, I don’t eat much gluten. By choice. I can. I don’t because I don’t feel as well — not sick, just not as well — when I do, and I know it’s not such a great choice anyhow. I don’t eat eggs or soy. Not by choice but because I have a food intolerance to them. If you just gasped or if you’re in a similar boat and need some encouragement, here it is: Life goes on. Quite well. Doesn’t bother me anymore. I’ve grown used to what I do, what I eat instead, and I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.
If you’re making this kind of choice or have no choice but to make this kind of choice, here are some tips to get you from what-the-hell-do-I-eat-NOW to thriving:
Tip 1: Find your alternatives. Find something to make/eat that’s similar to what you’re missing. Even if it’s not the best health choice (gluten-free alternatives made with crap, I’m looking at you), it still will help get you over the hump. Then you can make the next change. Breakfast used to be one of my favorite meals so the no-egg rule seemed awfully daunting at first. It isn’t anymore. I figured out how to make egg free pancakes (and then grain free as well). Then, I found out I could eat duck eggs. Perfect, same-as replacement. Can’t use soy sauce in a recipe I want? Coconut aminos works great. No loss and actually all gain because soy appears to be pure junk in the U.S. anymore.
Tip 2: Find your why for doing this. Then stay strong in it. It may sound odd, but it is so helpful. Get off the deprived train, and get on your own I-want-to-be-well train instead.
Tip 3: Likewise, stop explaining. Skip what you can’t/don’t want to eat. No conversation. If someone asks, keep it simple: “I can’t eat that.” End of story. No need for debate or discussion. Otherwise, you go down the pity party route and/or let-me-help-you-fix-that and/or this-is-why-you’re-wrong.
Tip 4: Look at all the foods you still can have. It’s a long list still. There’s more you can say yes to than you need to say no to. Go to a store with healthy choices (true healthy choices), and browse all the things that you can eat. Focus on what’s kinda cool. Get your lens off the whine.
Tip 5: If you eat something that doesn’t make you feel so great, notice how you’re feeling. It sucks, but it’ll remind you of why that food is not worth it.
Tip 6: Know you’re not the only one. There are so many people facing dietary restrictions. It’s the way it is currently. If it helps, find some of those people to share recipes and ideas with. No, not to grouse and complain with. That doesn’t help. It makes you feel worse, and you want to feel better.
Tip 7: Recognize it takes time to shift your tastebuds. Even though, today, thinking about substituting an orange for that adorable cupcake makes you roll your eyes; in time, you will love that orange. You won’t feel deprived or like you’re sacrificing something. Sugar is a tricky one in this, though. Go back to cupcake — won’t take long until you only want cupcake, and that orange can go rot itself silly. But, still, you can go right back and start scaling down sugar, increasing the other, and you’ll again get to the no-big-deal place.
Tip 8: Enlist help if you’re feeling overwhelmed and defeated. You won’t need it forever, but it’ll help get you going. Once you can ride that bike, you’ve got the skill. You don’t lose it. I’m happy to help you out; let me know. We’ll figure out a way to both do what you need and do what you love.
