4 Ways to Navigate Tailgates
It is that time of the year again! Family, friends, neighbors, and strangers alike all gather together to cheer on their favorite team. In a big football city like Knoxville (go Vols!), tailgates are just a way of life in the fall. When you are working on recovery from an eating disorder, however, this may be the last invitation you want to receive. But, this year could be different. Surviving new situations can teach you new things about yourself and can often give you confidence to do them again. If you feel like I’m speaking to you, I’d like to challenge you to spend time with fellow fans and push through the fears that social gatherings such as a tailgate may bring. Then drop me a line and tell me about it. In the meantime, here are a few ideas to help keep things less intimidating:
BYOF: Bring Your Own Food. If you are worried about getting caught up in an all-day event without a trace of food that you would be comfortable eating, offer to bring a dish or two that you can snack on throughout the day. If you aren’t eating it’s difficult to pay attention to the game and your friends. Restriction also actually increases anxiety!
Go with a friend. If you have someone by your side that knows what you are working through and can be there to support you, the easier it may be to get out of your comfort zone. Talk through challenges with them and come up with a game-plan beforehand in case you get overwhelmed at any point.
Remember that it doesn’t have to last forever. If you are feeling anxious about an upcoming tailgate, try to remind yourself that you can go home whenever you need to! It’s okay to do what you need to do for your mental health. Recovery is a slow process sometimes, but every step counts.
Don’t be afraid to say yes to foods that you have deemed “bad” or “unhealthy.” As I have stated many times before, food doesn’t have an agenda. One food and one meal is not going to change your body. So if you can, be brave! Try something new. My clients and I often reflect back on when they leaned into something scary and survived without anything bad happening. It’s so liberating for them. If you need help let us know. We are happy to help!
I look forward to the upcoming football season just as much as the next fan, but I also know that there are challenges to it as well. Remember to keep in mind that coming together with those you love is more important than any food rule could ever be!
Written by Trinny Duncan, Student Intern and Peggy Pratt, PhD, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C