Ep. 508: MVP: How to Handle “Food Pushers” During the Holidays

Saying yes when you want to say no? You’re not stuck with “food pushers”—you’re stuck in a thought pattern that makes you abandon yourself.

In this episode, I teach you how to honor both yourself and others during holiday gatherings. You’ll learn practical ways to show appreciation without putting food in your mouth when you don’t want it. I walk you through real scenarios, the potluck party, the mother-in-law’s special meal, the neighbor’s Christmas cookies, and show you exactly what to say and think that’s both kind and authentic.

This is about more than declining food. It’s about believing you can’t hurt someone else’s feelings (you can’t—they create their own feelings with their thoughts). It’s about standing in your own truth with kindness rather than people-pleasing your way into regret. Make this the season you finally practice being considerate to yourself first. Enjoy the show!

Holiday Master Class: Navigate the holidays with food peace at www.drdebbutler.com/holiday

Mini Session: Ready to master your mind? Book a free mini session at drdebbutler.com/workwithme

Thinner Peace Quiz: Take the quiz at drdebbutler.com/quiz to identify your obstacles to eating when hungry and stopping when full

Peace with Food 30-Day Course – Available at www.drdebbutler.com/joy

Now, go listen to the podcast. Click here to listen to the 1st episode. It’s the best place to start!

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What You’ll Learn From This Episode

• Why there’s no such thing as a “food pusher”—and what’s really happening
• How to increase your Mindfulness Quotient (MQ) around food decisions
• Practical scripts for declining food kindly at holiday parties
• Why you can’t actually hurt someone else’s feelings (and what this means for you)
• How to show appreciation without eating when you don’t want to
• The difference between being tactful and abandoning your own boundaries
• Real scenarios with mothers, mothers-in-law, friends, and neighbors—and how to handle each one