The festive season is quickly approaching. For many of us this means more social events to celebrate the silly season with friends and co-workers. This can be stressful if you’re following a low FODMAP diet with many of these social occasions revolving around food.
But fear not, today we have 6 easy tips to put you at ease this festive season.
Tip 1: Plan ahead
It can be helpful to start looking into your options ahead of time. In the weeks leading up to your social events look into the venue where it is being held. Whether this is a BBQ at a friend’s place or a 3-course dinner at a fancy restaurant, have an idea of the location and what kinds of FODMAP-friendly options they may have available.
Tip 2: Bring your own dish
If the social event is at a friend’s place or a BYO venue, you can offer to bring a plate of food to share. This could be a salad, some dip, meat to put on the BBQ, a cheese platter or dessert. Bringing your own dish means you know exactly what is in it. Plus, if there is nothing else that is FODMAP friendly, you know you won’t go hungry.
You could try our Asian Beef Salad, beetroot dip, or blueberry and strawberry crumble!
Tip 3: Contact the venue
If your social events are being held at a venue where you cannot bring your own food, it can be helpful to do some research beforehand. You can start by looking at the menu online to get an idea of any FODMAP friendly options they may have. It can be easier to go for simpler dishes such as meat and veggies where there are fewer hidden ingredients.
You can also give the venue a call to confirm what you have found and ask any further questions. Asking about hidden ingredients (eg. garlic and onion) can be helpful to determine if there are any FODMAP-friendly options. You may find you’ve hit the jackpot and the restaurant may accommodate your requirements. If this is the case, then that’s great!
But, if you find there is nothing to suit your needs, fear not, we have another option!
Tip 4: Eat before your social events
If you are unable to bring your own dish, or you have had no luck with the venue, it can be a good idea to eat beforehand. This ensures you won’t go hungry or be tempted to eat things that you will regret afterwards. But this does not have to take all the fun out of the occasion! You can still enjoy a drink and celebrate the festive season with your friends. Check out our article for some tips on alcohol and IBS!
Tip 5: Enjoy!
Don’t forget to ENJOY yourself! No matter what the outcome is when it comes to food, you should still be able to relax and enjoy the celebrations. Planning beforehand and following our simple tips will make sure you aren’t sitting around hungry. So now that you’ve done all the hard work, it’s time to relax, put your feet up and enjoy the festive season!
Tip 6: Don’t beat yourself up
Remember we are all human and make mistakes. If you end up eating some high FODMAP foods, dont beat yourself up. Instead, focus on looking after yourself and managing your symptoms. You can check out our article managing symptoms after high FODMAP foods for some tips.
By Ellie Thompson and Amanda Gaukroger
IG: @thefodmapchallenge
Image sourced from @Pinterest
Start feeling better now! By signing up to The FODMAP Challenge you will receive meal plans, recipe ideas, and regular support with other resources, to make this as easy for you as possible.