Maybe you're Italian like me and grew up with the "Seven Fishes" on Christmas Eve. Or, maybe your Grandma loved to bake a lot of deserts for Christmas day. Either way, chances are you grew up with food being the focus of your winter holiday celebration.
With around 7% of children being diagnosed with at least one food allergy, 3.1 million people diagnosed with IBD, which includes Crohn's disease, 2 million + with celiac disease, and many more children on medically necessary diets, it's time we shift toward making new holiday traditions that do not focus on food.
Here are 5 ideas for family fun this holiday season:
Holiday move marathon
Home Alone, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, etc. etc. etc. There is no shortage of amazing Christmas movies you can watch year after year curled up on the couch with your family.
2. Travel
Although not an option for everyone, taking advantage of time off from work for parents and school for kids can be the perfect time to travel. Whether it's simply traveling to a relatives house for the holidays or, taking a special trip to a new location (even if not very far!) can be a fun way to celebrate.
3. See the lights
Thanks to websites like Nextdoor and Facebook, where people can connect locally, it's easier than ever to find the best local Christmas lights display. Where I live in New Hampshire, there is a Facebook group devoted to just sharing the best Christmas lights in my area. Get on Google Maps and map out a Christmas light drive for the whole family to enjoy. Or, find out if a big venue is putting on a display that you can walk through. Many zoos, botanical gardens, and even golf courses and raceways will light up the night with beautiful displays for everyone to enjoy.
4. Play games
If you don't live too close to family and have a small family like we do, playing games meant for large groups is perfect for when the whole family is together on Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. Young kids, especially, get a kick out of playing games like charades for the first time.
5. Give back
For those who are fortunate enough to give back during the holidays, this is a perfect time to teach children about adversity and equality. "We're different. We're the same." If your child is upset about not being able to eat what everyone else can eat, this learning lesson can teach children that all humans struggle with something. You can volunteer at a food bank on Christmas to show that although one person may be able to eat any kind of food, they may not have a warm kitchen to eat in this Christmas.