Easter and food sensitivities
Easter can be a bit of a tricky one when you’ve got food sensitivities. From the outside it all looks quite simple. Chocolate, meals, time with family. But when you’re the one who has to think about everything you eat, it’s not that straightforward. There’s always that bit in the background where you’re trying to work things out. You don’t want to make a fuss, you don’t want to explain yourself again, but at the same time you know what happens if you just go along with it and eat whatever’s there. So you end up somewhere in the middle, trying to be part of things while also keeping an eye on what your body can handle.
I used to really dread these kinds of events. Everyone else enjoying their food without thinking about it, and I’d be sitting there with something like gluten-free bread and a couple of pieces of dark chocolate, trying to make it feel normal.
It’s not just about the food either. There’s a sense of loss that comes with it, and I think that’s the bit people don’t really talk about. Missing out on things you used to enjoy, or feeling like you’re having a completely different experience to everyone else around you. I don’t think there’s any point pretending that part isn’t there. It is hard sometimes.
What has changed for me over time is not that it’s suddenly easy. I can eat more now than I used to, which helps, but I still have to be careful. That hasn’t gone away. It’s more that I don’t let it turn into a whole thing in my head in the same way. I plan a bit more, so I’m not caught out. I’ll bring something I know I can eat or make sure there’s at least one option. Not in a big, controlling way, just enough to take the pressure off.
And I try not to make the whole day about food. If that’s where all your attention goes, it can start to feel quite heavy. So I look for other parts of the day instead. Being outside, having a proper conversation, just spending time with people without constantly thinking about what I can or can’t eat.
It also helps to zoom out a bit. These moments feel big when you’re in them, but it’s a few days. It’s not your whole life. You can still enjoy parts of it in your own way. The start of spring, a bit more light, being around people you like. Even small things make a difference.
And if it feels difficult, it’s okay to make it easier for yourself. You don’t have to cook a full meal for everyone if you can’t eat it. You don’t have to force yourself through situations that feel stressful. Sometimes it’s as simple as getting a takeaway for others and making something safe for yourself.
Things like this, Easter, birthdays, all those food-heavy occasions, can feel quite challenging. But with a bit of thought beforehand, it usually ends up more manageable than you expect, and not as bad as it feels beforehand.
About the Author
Nurture & Thrive is written from lived experience of managing multiple food sensitivities over more than 15 years. The content reflects personal experience of navigating symptoms, diagnosis, and recovery, and is focused on the practical and emotional realities of living with it day to day.