It took me years to put this together and realize—it’s a thing. Going home for Sukkos, or even just a Shabbos somehow breaks down even the strongest dieter. 😅
When I asked my followers, 92% said that going home brings out more or different eating in them. Their reasons were fascinating:
• 🍰 Free food everywhere
• 😬 Stress
• 😤 Family drama
• 🍲 Associating Mom with comfort food
• 🥴 Pressure from relatives
• 🙋♀️ When you’re served instead of serving, your appetite grows
• 👶 Feeling like a kid again and letting Mom feed you
To dig deeper, I spoke to a few therapists. Here’s what they shared:
🧠 Shlomo Bineth, PhD, LMHC:
1️⃣ Our eating habits are deeply influenced by childhood modeling. When you go home, you naturally slip back into those old patterns without realizing it.
2️⃣ It’s a break from routine. And routine is one of your best friends when it comes to healthy eating.
3️⃣ Parents may not be on the same page about healthy food and often serve dishes that aren’t part of your usual plan.
4️⃣ For many parents, serving food = showing love. ❤️
🗣️ Devorah Goldman, LCSW:
The way parents talk about food shapes a child’s habits. Returning to your family home stirs childhood memories—often tied to comfort foods—so you might find yourself slipping into old eating patterns. 🍪
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💡 How to Handle It:
1️⃣ Don’t assume the worst. When your mom offers that famous kugel, she’s probably just showing love (and pride in her dish!). 💛
2️⃣ Look out for triggers. If you know temptation awaits, go prepared—don’t arrive starving, or bring your own healthy options. 🥗
3️⃣ Don’t be afraid to say no. A polite “no, thank you” won’t hurt anyone. No guilt, no long explanations needed. 🙅♀️
4️⃣ Be consistent. If you don’t take your plan seriously, others won’t either. 🍽️ Consistency builds respect and results.
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And remember: 💕
There’s nothing like family. Don’t avoid going—just build the tools and mindset to handle it better.
– Tanya
