Christmas can be one of the most difficult times of the year for people with eating disorders and their families, as food and social gatherings play a central role in many homes. Here are some recommendations to reduce anxiety during Christmas meals:

• We recommend that parents serve the food to the person with an eating disorder to ensure that the portions are adequate.
• Distractions during meals can be very helpful, such as choosing topics of conversation that don't revolve around food or having music playing in the background.
• It can be useful to agree on a minimum table time with the aim of reducing the anxiety of spending a lot of time sitting at a table full of food.
• If the people who accompany us to meals have information about the disorder, we can agree that they will not ask uncomfortable questions about the amount of food, that they will not insist on repeating it, and that they will not make judgments about physical appearance.
• You can also agree on a signal with a trusted person to let them know that you need help during the meal, so that you can withdraw and receive emotional support, or to change the focus of the conversation.