How To Respectfully And Assertively Share Your Food Preferences And Limits

Getty It’s Thanksgiving, and your mother-in-law has prepared her signature stuffing recipe. “I think that there can be a stigma around different food preferences for lots of different reasons ― for diet culture, it’s a thing that millennials or Gen Z years are doing.” Licensed therapist Danielle Locklear explained that drawing boundaries can be challenging and scary for people who haven’t done it before. “Of course, it’s individual, but often people are worried about the response they’ll get or fear disappointing or upsetting loved ones by asserting their boundaries.” Find the right time Hosting an event can be nerve-racking, so experts recommended speaking to the host about any dietary issues as far in advance as possible. “The good news is, it’s OK for people to feel disappointed ― it’s just another healthy human emotion, and in actuality, you can’t ‘make’ anyone feel one way or the other,” Locklear said. “It’s a great opportunity not to make assumptions and let guests know that restrictions and preferences are always up for discussion,” Locklear said.