Tips on Coping With Food Problems

Professionals and those who have recovered from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimina and other conditions offer several tips on how to cope with the holiday season.

For someone with an eating disorder:

* Know in advance that holidays pose particular stress and don’t expect the problems of the rest of the year to magically disappear because it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas.

* Don’t fast all day in anticipation of the big meal, because that can lead to overeating. If the unstructured time of the holiday can make you apprehensive, make sure you follow your usual routines, such as exercise.

* Make sure you can go out for a walk or drive if you need to get away from the holiday gathering or arrange to have the phone number of someone sympathetic to your problems to call during the day if you need a break from your family.

* If your eating disorder flares up, don’t beat yourself up: It’s just one meal, and tomorrow is another day.

For families:

* Make sure the menu includes food that the person with the eating disorder is comfortable eating, but don’t get manipulated into unreasonable demands, like no desserts or an all-vegetarian meal, that could disrupt the holiday for everyone else.

* It’s hard, but try not to watch the person with the disorder throughout the meal to make sure he or she is eating normally; the person may feel uncomfortable about eating in public to begin with.

* Respect each person’s wishes on the amount and variety of food to take. Don’t, for example, push food on someone who isn’t eating what you consider “enough” or say it’s OK to overeat “just this once.”

* Remember that food is just one part of holiday celebrations and plan other activities--even just simple conversation--that have nothing to do with eating.