How to Navigate the Holidays With an Eating Disorder

Eating disorders involve persistent patterns of disordered eating that affect health and daily functioning. Conditions such as anorexia, ARFID, binge eating disorder, bulimia, and others can make having an eating disorder and the holidays especially stressful for individuals and their families.

Holiday gatherings often revolve around large meals, desserts, and extended time at the table. For someone living with an eating disorder, this environment can heighten anxiety and preoccupation with food. With planning and support, however, holiday events can still be meaningful and manageable.

Before holiday events, families should collaborate with a mental health provider to create a plan tailored to the individual’s triggers and symptoms. A brief family session can clarify expectations and strengthen support for surviving the holidays with an eating disorder.

For mild to moderate symptoms, the following strategies may help individuals navigate their eating disorder during the holidays with greater comfort and stability:

1. Let your child know that you understand that the holidays may be a difficult time for them, and that you want to support them.
2. Consider joining a session with their clinician to better understand their triggers and the plan for holiday gatherings.
3.  Identify simple coping strategies that make getting through the holidays with an eating disorder easier – such as stepping outside, taking a walk, helping with a task, or contacting a trusted support person.
4. Allow them to skip certain foods without pressure. Holiday gatherings are rarely the right environment to push exposure work or introduce difficult foods.
5. Encourage participation in the parts of the holiday they enjoy most, helping them create positive memories and feel included, even if they step away from food-focused activities.

Setting boundaries with family members is especially important for individuals with eating disorders during Thanksgiving and other holiday gatherings. Not everyone needs to know the details of your child’s struggles, and decisions about what to share should be made with your child and their mental health provider. Planning non–non-food-focused activities and preparing neutral conversation topics in advance can prevent the day from becoming overly centered on meals or body-related commentary.

If certain individuals have been triggering or inappropriate in the past, and your child is comfortable with it, you can calmly ask them to avoid specific topics – or consider limiting their involvement. For additional support in navigating holiday boundaries, Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates can help you create a tailored plan.

Additional Resources

• ANAD.org – National Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Free support for individuals and loved ones who struggle with eating disorders.
• Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Helpline: 1.866.662.1235 and web: www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com