22/12/2025
Festive events without diet talk: a small change that makes gatherings safer 🎄
Festive season is meant to feel connecting. But for a lot of people, it turns into a low-key performance review of bodies and plates.
Even when it's framed as a joke, a compliment, or "I'm just being honest", diet talk and body commentary can increase stress at the table, trigger shame and rumination, keep everyone stuck in body surveillance, and make meals and photos feel less safe.
And no — you can't tell someone's health by looking at them.
**What counts as diet talk?**
"I'm being good/bad" | "I'll have to work this off" | "Are you sure you want that?" | "You look amazing — have you lost weight?" | New Year "reset" / detox / punishment plans
**What to say instead (simple scripts)**
*Soft redirect:*
"I'm trying to keep food talk neutral today — how have you been?"
"Can we park diet chat? Tell me what you've been into lately."
*Clear boundary:*
"I'm not doing weight or diet talk."
"I don't discuss bodies — mine or anyone else's."
*Exit plan:*
"I'm going to grab some air — back in a bit."
Leaving isn't rude. It's regulation.
If you've got a go-to phrase that shuts down diet chat without drama, drop it in the comments — I'm collecting scripts people can actually use. 💚
