Celebrating without a food focus
Raise your hand if you have gone out for dinner as a way to celebrate a job promotion, winning or coming into some money, after winning a sports game, or after your child has won a sports game?
It is so common right?
You get a raise > you go out for dinner
Win some money > go out for dinner
Win your hockey game > go for wings, pizza and beer
Kid wins a soccer game > go for ice cream
Even with birthdays, it’s almost always about over indulging in food. What if we started sharing in that person's favorite activity instead? What might that look like?
Maybe you want to do something nice for someone and celebrate them as a random act of kindness (I am thinking specifically of parents and employers who constantly bring in pizza and baked goods). What about a gift card to a local bookstore, or a book itself, or a candle? Why is it almost always food?
Unfortunately, most of us were raised having food as part of our reward system. My brother was potty trained with starburst candies. I always got homemade hash brown potato casserole and cheesecake on my birthdays or when I was visiting home. My hockey team gets a coupon for nachos if we play a game with zero penalties. And I am sure that you are thinking of some more examples of your own right now, based on your personal experiences.
Why is it important that we talk about this? or even try to change it?
Because, when we are taught to use food as a tool to celebrate then we attach this “I deserve a drink because I did X,Y,Z, and I deserve pizza because I did a bang up job competing my tasks this week, type of mindset. I mean it’s normal for some people to get beer and pizza on Fridays just for getting through the work week!
Unfortunately carrying on like this can be super detrimental to your overall relationship with food, and your kids, if you have them. You are their role model after all. Set the example for them that builds habits you want them to grow up with.
Where can you start? and does this mean you can never celebrate with food?
Of course not! It just means you don’t want make it your go-to option every single time, (again, especially if you have kids).
Here are some ideas of ways you can start celebrating, as well as ways you can treat yourself and others that are not food related.
Books
Quality time
Going to a favorite or new to you park
Watching a favorite movie
Going to a concert
Getting your nails done
Taking a spa day
Buying yourself flowers
and more.
Make a list of the activities you and the people around you like to do and start there next time something worth celebrating comes up!
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Now go celebrate yourself, but this time, don’t make it about food.
