Hello lovely!

It’s the season of food-centric celebrations! That can be wonderful…but you also might encounter The Food Police during this time of year.

The Food Police are people who can’t keep their eyes on their own plate. 

They pay close attention to what you’re eating, how much you’re eating, and often make comments about other people’s body size. They are policing your plate instead of minding their own.

One time I met a member of The Food Police at a backyard barbecue.

It was hosted by a friend of mine but I didn’t know any of the other guests. There was a picnic table filled with food and I’d made myself a plate, including some delicious-looking potato salad.

I LOVE potato salad! When my husband makes it with liquid hickory smoke seasoning, it will be the only thing I eat at dinner. It is just so good! 

So at this barbecue, I was balancing my plate on my knees and excited to dig in!

Sitting across from me in the folding chair circle was an older woman that I didn’t know. She looked at my food and said to me, “Are you sure you should be eating that?”

“What? Why?” I replied. “Is there something wrong with it?”

I thought maybe ants had gotten into the potato salad or she saw one of the little kids stick their fingers in it.

“You know.” She paused and looked my body up and down. “It’s fattening.”

Taken aback, I started to laugh. Because WHO SAYS THAT?? That’s wild!!!

There were lots of phrases I could have said to her. Here are some examples: 

“What an odd thing to say to a stranger?”

“My body is not your business.”

“I have a personal rule that I don’t discuss diets when I’m eating. It tends to ruin the meal.”

Or, the option I DID actually say: 

“Oh no! We don’t make comments about other people’s bodies like that. That’s so inappropriate!”

I couldn’t stop laughing at how audacious and ridiculous it was for her to say that. After a moment the woman got up and walked away. I think she left the party because I didn’t see her again.

To help you prepare for meeting The Food Police this season, please reply to this email with what food policing comments have been said to you in the past? I will be sharing here on Mondays how to say the thing back to them.

Because you, your plate of food, and your body doesn’t need policing.

I recognize that we exist in a culture that has specific ideas about what is okay and what is not okay when it comes to food, fatness, thinness, and health.

But whatever is happening with your body is not the purview of the random lady at the barbecue, your Uncle Ralph at Thanksgiving, or that coworker snarking about you getting two cookies instead of cutting one in half like they did.

I’m here to help you find the words to say when The Food Police show up because being prepared will completely change your experience of food-centric celebrations.

I want you to be able to laugh at their ridiculousness and then email and tell me all about it!

I’m here for you.

Warmly,