OK, fair and carnival season is underway in many towns, cities, counties, and states across our country. You know how it goes- what does everyone talk about when they go to the fair? The FOOD! I was driving in my car yesterday and decided to pause my favorite Prince music to listen to the good old ole’ fashioned radio. The first thing I heard, was a 1 min song all about the food at the state fair! It was pretty clever, and catchy, I have to admit, but seriously a song all about fair food?!
Although there are so many amazing things about going to the fair (animals, vegetation, inventions, arts, crafts, music, equipment, rides, history lessons, games, the people, shopping,…), there’s no denying it, the food wins the 1st place blue ribbon for the “Most Talked About” fair event. The food is the big deal which can make it even that much more challenging when you have an eating disorder.
OK, the Blue Ribbon question: Can you really go to the fair (not only survive it but possibly enjoy it) when you have an eating disorder?
The answer: Yes!
How?
The answer: Try following the 3 P’s: Plan, Prepare and use your People.
At The Emily Program, we believe in a food philosophy where “all foods fit” into a healthy lifestyle. There is no good food. There is no bad food. It’s just food. It’s the judgments that some attach to certain foods that make it “bad, good, healthy, unhealthy…” We’ll save that conversation for another post, but I do think it can be a nice entry point into flexibility with fair food.
Knowing all of that, I bet you now know what foods can be included in a diet of balance, variety, and moderation? You guessed it. Fair food.
If you are going to the fair, PLAN TO EAT. Remember your friends, Hunger & Fullness? If you are connected to those cues, try to honor them. If they are long-lost friends, follow your plan for eating as your guide. Planning to restrict or deny your hunger and fullness cues is sure to occupy your time, likely add to any stress you may have about the day, could make you feel pretty miserable, could even trigger other eating disorder behaviors and, not to mention, will take away from the experience of the fair.
Now that you have considered another perspective on food, let’s begin practicing the 3 P’s to get ready for fair day:
Plan Your Day:
Prepare:
People:
Look, if you are going to the fair, by choice or not, you do have options and choices on how you approach the situation. If you can find and use your voice, ask for what you need, try to find aspects of the fair that you enjoy, and consider that all food can fit into a healthy lifestyle then, no matter how it turns out, you know tried your best. That’s something to be proud of. Who knows, maybe you’ll even write your own song about the fair- one filled with victory tunes!
In Gratitude,
Lisa Diers
P.S. If you were curious, my favorite fair foods: Roasted corn on the cob, cotton candy, cheese curds, caramel apple on a stick, walleye cakes, pecan salted nut roll and I am definitely trying the “OOF-da Tacos” this year, I am Minnesotan after all-don’t ya know!
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