Are You Wondering How to Eat AIP when Your Family Eats a Standard Diet?
Are you like me and also live with a family that is not on a Paleo or Paleo AIP diet? A common concern I hear in my support group and from my coaching clients is navigating sharing a kitchen and meals with their loved ones who eat more standard, conventional diets.
I wanted to write this post to share my tips with you that have helped me and my family approach this often-stressful subject with grace, education, and from a place of respect for food choices.
Read on to learn how you can enjoy the company of your loved ones at the dinner table, regardless of which diet they are on!
Bits of Information is Key
As an educator, the importance of knowing why we are doing something differently or attempting anything new can make all the difference! When we understand the reasoning behind a special diet, we can then grasp why someone would want to give it a try.
I like to include a digestible dose of the science behind the AIP to those close to me so that they know I’ve done my research and that there is justification behind the diet. I find that small tidbits of information are best at first so as to not overwhelm anyone. You know as well as I do that a whole textbook of information can make eyes glaze over very quickly and cause the message to not be received!
Wins and Goals Sharing
Besides sharing a bit of the science, I also like to get personal. I let my loved ones know that the Paleo AIP diet and lifestyle protocol helped to reverse my HS skin problems and pain, and that it lowered my Hashimoto’s antibodies.
Then I follow up with HOW these physical improvements have improved my life in a cause-and-effect manner. For example:
- Lowered thyroid antibodies means I have more energy.
- More energy means I can both get chores done AND enjoy some downtime with my family after a full day of work (most days!).
- Getting more done means I am not overwhelmed at bedtime, so I sleep better.
- Sleeping better means my hormones are more balanced during the day and I am in a wonderful, happy mood.
- Being in a happy mood means everyone around me also benefits from this positive vibration.
I could keep going! See how sharing your goals and wins with the AIP is just as important to your loved ones as is the data, if not more so?
Educate About Cross-Contamination
This one is so, so important, especially when it comes to gluten! I calmly taught my family that the miniscule size of 1 tiny gluten particle is enough to set my gut and immune system off into a flare. So if they were to eat a takeout pizza slice over the kitchen counter where I will later prepare my AIP asparagus, even if they wipe it up, my food still may make contact with the residual gluten particles.
If you cannot fully ban allergens from your kitchen, try instead to:
- Have separate preparation areas.
- Use disposable dinnerware and cutlery for allergen-containing foods.
- Compromise and allow them to have takeout or frozen meals that contain allergens at home, but not keep problematic foods like wheat flour, crackers, bread, etc on hand (these have small, lingering particles which can get into your food).
Depending on which foods you are sensitive to or are currently eliminating, you may find you also need to set clear but kind boundaries about dairy, nightshades, seed spices, nuts, etc.
Find Compromise Meals
An AIP meal can be made Paleo or close to conventional with just a few toppings! Here are some ways I jazz up my AIP meals for my guests, while keeping my own portion compliant:
AIP Tuna Casserole: I can serve my loved ones a scoop with some tasty additions so they don’t feel deprived. For example, I can serve theirs topped with shredded cheddar cheese.
AIP Spaghetti: I can serve my loved ones’ portions with a topping of roasted red peppers and grated parmesan cheese.
AIP Flatbread Pizza: I can make my pizza as-written in this recipe, and for my guests’ pizzas add sun-dried tomatoes, chopped walnuts, and goat cheese.
AIP Golden Milk Chicken: I can serve mine over cauliflower rice but serve my family’s portions over white rice then top theirs with red chili flakes and toasted almonds.
Share this Post: “How to Eat AIP when Your Family Eats a Standard Diet” with Your Family!
Last but not least, sometimes all our loved ones need is a nudge to help them understand where we are coming from. Maybe sending them this article and giving them a hug can make all of the difference.
Then you can open up the conversation and ask them some ways you can work alongside each other with your different diets.
