Ah, Thanksgiving. That magical time of year when you’re expected to smile through small talk, dodge family politics, and, for many of us, navigate the very real experience of body shaming at Thanksgiving. It’s also the one holiday still wrapped in the Kindergarten version of history, all while piling our plates with comfort food that can feel healing and triggering at the same time.
And for so many plus size folks, especially anyone living in recovery from disordered eating or navigating complicated family dynamics, Thanksgiving can be a minefield of food policing, unsolicited comments, and body shaming wrapped in faux concern.
As someone who grew up in a family full of fitness-first personalities: a dad who never met a gym he didn’t like, a bodybuilding sister, and a parent who was terrified of ever returning to their larger body; I had to unlearn years of holiday shame spirals. Like many plus size folks, I was acutely aware of how people watched what I put on my plate, how fast I ate, or whether I dared to go back for seconds.
And let’s be honest: Thanksgiving has a way of turning family members into self-appointed wellness coaches nobody hired.
But here’s the good news:
You are absolutely not alone, and you are absolutely not powerless.
Below is your 2025 guide to navigating body shaming at Thanksgiving:
with clarity, confidence, and a whole lot of curvy-person joy.
1. Don’t Restrict Your Eating Before Thanksgiving
There’s a long-standing myth that you should “save up” calories leading into Thanksgiving like rollover minutes from a 2007 cell phone plan.
Spoiler: your body is not a billing cycle.
Restriction before a holiday meal sets you up for:
- emotional distress
- binge-restrict cycles
- shame spirals
- feeling disconnected from your own body
Feed yourself consistently and compassionately in the days before Thanksgiving. Your body needs stability, not punishment.
2. Eat What Feels Good for You, Not for Aunt Karen’s Approval
Newsflash:
Just because Aunt Karen brings her triple-butter creamed corn casserole every year doesn’t mean you owe her plate loyalty.
Tune in:
- How does this food make you feel?
- Do you want it?
- Will it make your body feel nourished or nauseous later?
You’re not obligated to eat everything placed in front of you, and you’re not a bad person for leaving something on your plate.
Eat intentionally. Eat slowly. Eat with your whole body, not just your taste buds.
3. If it’s Safe, You Don’t Have to Tolerate Body Shaming at Thanksgiving
Before you clap back or set boundaries, as always, check:
Am I physically and emotionally safe in this environment?
If yes, here are real strategies for responding to body shaming at Thanksgiving:
Option A: No-Sell + Redirect
A classic move.
- “Mmm. Anyway, how was your trip to Florida?”
- “Noted. Hey, didn’t you say work was wild? Tell me more.”
Option B: Set a Clear Boundary
Kind. Direct. No wiggle room.
- “My body and my plate aren’t open for commentary.”
- “I’m enjoying my food, please let me do that without input.”
Option C: Educate (Only If You Have the Energy)
Emotional labor is optional, not required.
- “That comment is hurtful and reinforces harmful ideas about bodies and food.”
- “I’m working on healing my relationship with food, and remarks like that aren’t helpful.”
Option D: Leave the Situation
For real. You can:
- Step outside
- Move to another room
- Call a friend
- Or leave altogether
You are allowed to protect your peace.
4. Remember You’re Not Alone, Even If It Feels Like It
One of the best parts of living in 2025 is that the plus size community is easier to access than ever.
If your real-life table feels heavy, your digital curvy fam is here.
We’ve been through:
- body shaming at Thanksgiving
- years of unsolicited commentary
- food policing from relatives who haven’t changed since the Clinton administration
And every year, we help each other get through it.
This season, you are supported, deeply and fully.
5. A Few Affirmations for Your Thanksgiving Toolkit
Say these out loud, whisper them, or screenshot them for a bathroom break reset:
- My body is not on trial today.
- Food is nourishment, not a moral test.
- I deserve joy, ease, and enoughness at every table.
- Their comments are about their fears, not my worth.
- I choose peace over pressure.
- I do not have to shrink my body or my presence.
- I am allowed to take up space; physically, emotionally, and at the table.
You’ve survived 100% of your past Thanksgivings.
You can absolutely thrive through this one.
And Remember: You’re the Main Dish, Babe
If there’s one thing to take away from this Thanksgiving guide, it’s this:
You’re not just showing up to dinner… you ARE the dinner.
The full entrée. The whole spread. The moment.
So let the side-dishes side-dish.
Let the casseroles casserole.
Let the Aunt Karens Karen.
Your job is simply to:
- Serve face
- Protect your peace
- Eat what you want
- Dodge the drama
- And remember that their commentary says everything about them… and absolutely nothing about you.
Thanksgiving comes once a year.
Your confidence? That’s forever.
Now go get your plate, your pie, and your power back.
This article, How to Navigate Body Shaming at Thanksgiving (Without Losing Your Sanity This Season) first appeared on The Curvy Fashionista and is written by Editorial Staff.
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