Recently, I attended a writing workshop (in Dutch!) and the given theme was ‘celebrations’. At first, I thought I had nothing to write about – I had not really taken part in any celebrations for quite some time. But then it struck me: maybe that was exactly what I should write about.
I began thinking about how people celebrate birthdays, religious holidays, and other occasions in Turkey, Czechia, and the Netherlands – the three countries that I lived in. No matter where I looked, celebrations always seemed to involve one thing: either alcoholic drinks, desserts with added sugar, or a mix of both. Somehow, “celebrating” has become synonymous with harming our own bodies. And I keep asking myself: why should I hurt myself in order to celebrate something?
In the past, people didn’t know much about how food affects their health. But now we do. Shouldn’t that awareness also change how we celebrate? Why not welcome the New Year with colorful smoothies, homemade dips without added sugar or preservatives, or big, festive salads?
You could say, “You can just do that yourself.” True (and I did it, see above!:) — but celebrating is not only about food; it’s about socializing. And that’s where the challenge lies.
I often see companies listing “Friday drinks” as part of their workplace perks. Sure, there are non-alcoholic options available — but that’s not quite what I mean. I’m talking about truly nourishing and fresh alternatives. I’m not here to tell anyone what to do or not to do. I simply want to show that people who wish to make healthy choices have far fewer options (if at all!) than those who prefer the traditional ways of celebrating — be it at work, during religious events, or even at most birthdays.
I also often see the term balanced eating misused on social media. To me, balanced eating means getting your vitamins and minerals from diverse sources — not just adding a small percentage of unhealthy food and calling it “balance.” No one is perfect, and I understand that. But instead of defending poor habits, why don’t we support each other in making better choices? Why don’t we demand easier access to fresh, healthy foods at our gatherings?
And think about this: if someone has a gluten allergy, would you ever say, “It’s fine to eat gluten once in a while”? Of course not. Some people must follow strict dietary rules — yet as a society, do we make their lives easier or harder, especially during celebrations?
Maybe it’s time we rethink what celebrating truly means. Perhaps joy doesn’t have to come with a sugar rush or a hangover, but with connection, laughter, and food that makes us feel good — in every sense of the word.