Reducing Anxiety During the Holidays by Selena, The Celiac Dietitian
Food-based anxiety can prevent us from enjoying the holidays. Selena RD, offers us her top 3 coping tips.
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1. Ask in advance, what will be served.
- Just having an understanding of what will be served will help you gain back a sense of control which can reduce anxiety.
- Call ahead to the host and ask what will be served.
2. What is causing you the most anxiety?
If you can get specific in your top worries, it can help direct suggestions that can be particularly helpful.
Is it cross contact, making sure all the ingredients are gf, hidden gluten sources that people don’t really know about, not wanting to have the conversation….. etc.
Take a moment and really think about this. Depending on your top worries and the type of holiday event, some helpful strategies may include:
- Arriving early and helping with food prep
- Asking for recipes or texting food labels back and forth
- Hanging out in the kitchen to keep eyes on things
- Having communication tips to divert celiac talk
- Recommending safe GF bakeries or your favorite products
- Telling the host you’re bringing a dish (and bring enough to share!)
- Sticking with low risk, naturally GF items
- Communicating cross contact needsEating before you go or hosting at your house
3. My favorite tip. Identify your gluten buddy.
- This can be the biggest thing that will reduce ‘feeling like a burden’ at events. Sometimes, it can feel like too much when it comes to all the planning and this can cause anxiety. Celiac is a very difficult diagnosis and you’re not meant to go at this alone.
- Your gluten buddy is someone who is in the trenches of the GF diet and empathizes with the challenges of the GF diet. It could be someone like your partner, a loved one, or a good friend.
- Once you have your gluten buddy, you can delegate tasks to them (as appropriate) that you identified as being anxiety-provoking for you from tip #2.
- My gluten buddy is my husband. I regularly ask him to figure out what will be served in advance. He is as knowledgeable as me when it comes to safely cooking GF and he will be my eyes in the kitchen at events so I don’t need to worry about it. These things make navigating social situations much easier for me.
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I’m Selena – THE CELIAC DIETITIAN
I operate an online private practice specializing in the dietary management of celiac disease and the gluten free diet. And, I’m celiac too.
As the go-to expert on everything gluten free, I help people master the gluten-free diet so they can live gluten free with more ease.
I take the ‘complicated’ out of the gluten free diet, and give you the practical and realistic advice you need so you can still live your life!
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‘Q&A Tuesdays on Instagram’
Your chance to submit any questions you may have on nutrition, education or receive downright free advice! Fellow celiac and expert Gluten-Free Dietitian, Selena De Vries, RD, is eager to help! Ask by 4pm Pacific Time and get your answer the same day!
How it works!
1. Visit Selena’s profile at https://www.instagram.com/celiac_dietitian/
2. Click on her profile picture (screenshot 1)
3. Wait until you see the “ask me a question” sticker and then click it and type your question (screenshot 2)
4. Receive your answer by clicking through Selena’s stories i.e. the same spot where you entered your question
- Does it feel like celiac disease is taking over your life?
- Do you want a solution that makes celiac feel less overwhelming and less stressful so you can get back to living and loving your life?
- Are you thinking about celiac from the time you wake up, to the time you go to bed?
- Are you worried about cross contact? ,
- Does eating out feel frustrating?
- Are you experiencing persistent symptoms?
- Does celiac disease often creep into your thoughts?
Well, no more. You’re in the right place now. And, it’s time for this to change!
Selena’s Services
Live Gluten Free with More Ease – Hybrid Group Program – Master the Gluten Free Diet
This online program combines 1:1 support and group coaching support. Sky rocket your knowledge beyond what most healthcare providers know and kick anxiety and stress to the curb. This hybrid program is the ultimate, A-Z, course that will help you live gluten free with more ease.
Learn more
Apply now
Eat Out with Confidence – Group Coaching – Become a Celiac Savvy Restaurant Diner
If you find yourself avoiding eating out because of anxiety around cross contact, not knowing the right questions to ask, or not trusting that the staff are taking you seriously, then this online, group coaching course is for you.
Learn more
Apply now
1:1 Individual Coaching – Receive an Individualized Action Plan
This online service is best suited to help people find relief of persistent symptoms such bloat, constipation, reflux, or fatigue. It is also helpful for newly diagnosed and people who prefer to work, solely, in a 1:1 capacity.
Learn more
Apply here