Why That Tiny Thanksgiving Guilt Isn’t About the Food

Thanksgiving is here, and maybe you’re noticing it: that tiny pang of guilt when you reach for mashed potatoes, stuffing, or pie.

Before you beat yourself up, let me tell you something—this isn’t random. That guilt? It didn’t come out of nowhere.

Most of us grew up with little messages about food and bodies that stuck with us:

• “Carbs make you gain weight.”

• “You don’t need that.”

• “Are you sure you’re hungry again?”

These rules were meant to shape behavior, to survive diet culture—but they didn’t disappear when we left the dinner table. Instead, they quietly whisper in the background, showing up loud and clear during times when your body actually needs more, not less. Like pregnancy. Like postpartum. Like the never-ending chaos of motherhood.

Here’s the truth:

Carbs aren’t the problem.

The rules you learned to survive in diet culture? Those are the problem.

So how do we start to shift that? Here are a few gentle, practical ways to begin:

✨ Notice the guilt and name it. Recognize it as an old rule—not a current truth. “Ah, here’s that old dieting voice. It’s not my reality anymore.”

✨ Make meals that include carbs on purpose. Your body needs fuel to thrive. Nourishment is never a mistake.

✨ Curate your social feed. Follow body-respecting, anti-diet voices that support your healing. Seeing consistent, positive messages matters more than you might think.

If you’re ready to break those generational food rules and finally feel calm around eating—especially during pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood—you don’t have to do it alone. I’d love to support you in reclaiming peace with food and your body.

This Thanksgiving, give yourself permission to eat without guilt. Your body is doing a lot. It deserves nourishment, not shame.