You just got invited over to some new friends who are excited that you are also trying to live a healthier life by limiting toxins, simplifying life, and eating healthy. Every new health minded friend is a blessing, but you already know that the healthy or Crunchy lifestyle comes in different degrees of crunchiness. These new friends may just be learning what is good for you and what is toxic. Beyond the crunchiness, you know that your family’s food sensitivities can sometimes hinder dinner gatherings. What do you do to prepare for a get together while striving to build life together?
Your response comes down to knowing yourself, communicating with others, and knowing when to soften your crunchiness.
Knowing yourself boils down to knowing where you cannot afford to compromise versus where you can lighten up for a night with friends. For example, those with celiac cannot afford even a little slip with gluten. Likewise, those with peanut anaphylaxis can’t afford even a bite without risk to life.
On the other hand, eating organic foods 90% of the time may be enough that you can eat something that is not 100% organic locally sourced and survive. Likewise, you may be able to handle a little dessert that has more sugar than your normal fare.
Communication is key throughout all of life, and it’s definitely important here. Letting your dinner hosts know what you can’t afford to risk can save both later awkwardness and ER trips. From these, simple questions can gauge ideas for what you can bring as a food contribution versus they are comfortable providing. You can also find out what their food needs are by asking. Keep it laid back where you can and encourage one another.
It comes back to the knowing yourself aspect, just from a different angle. Living a healthy life includes having healthy relationships. Food challenges with health can hinder such relationships for many. When you know what is less important for your own health, you can relax and know that 1 serving of non-organic peas or 1 scoop of imperfect ice cream will not destroy your health in most cases. If you are eating healthy 80-90% of the time, you can still achieve a healthier life for yourself and your family.
We were made to share meals with others. The effort to know yourself, communicate, and compromise on the minor areas greatly enriches life.
Dr. Potter.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
