How to Have a “Diet-Talk-Free” Small Group This Year
I’m a big fan of small groups. Jesus said it best when he said, “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) Oh man, isn’t it the truth?
Brothers and sisters in Christ coming together doing life, sharing prayer requests, learning about the Bible, drinking tea and talking about visions and dreams for the year. Community, fellowship, togetherness. It’s a beautiful thing. And then someone says it.
“I just need to lose like 10 pounds…and then I’ll be happy.”
The diet talk.
Ugh, BUZZ KILL?!
Now I’m not saying your friend who wants to lose weight is shallow. They’re human. They’re a human being living in a thinness-crazed world. They’ve drunken the dietland Koolaid. And, since you follow our blog, you know the truth. God cares more about the heart than anything else. Remember? It says it in the Bible:
“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." – 1 Samuel 16:7
This year as you start your small group, we are challenging you to make a brave request of your group members. Ask for your small group to be a diet-talk-free zone. What this means is no talking bad about your body or anyone else’s. No talking calories, or “good” and “bad” foods.
See, wouldn’t that be so much better? A group that is full of love and inclusion for all people in all bodies, eating all foods?
Who’s with me???
In fact, start off the year with a “Diet Detox”. Go through our devotional together as a small group! We will even bundle it for you so you can all go in on it together and save some money! That or give your friends a late Christmas gift, or a New Year’s gift. Go through the 30-day devotional together for a month and see how it transforms the people in your small group. Can you imagine your small group being a safe place to go and not to have to hear about dieting? This too can be yours.
Speak up. Need some word ideas? Here you go: “Um friends? I have a request to make about our group? See, I’m trying to feel more positive about my body in 2020 and I was wondering if you could support me. I’d like to propose that we all make an effort to no longer speak negatively about our bodies, or other people’s bodies. I’d like to propose that we banish talk of diets, trying to lose weight, calories, or labeling food as good or bad in our group space. Is that cool with everyone? I’d love your support in this.”
Speak up. We’ve got your back! And consider Diet Detox as your next small group devotional. What a way to start off 2020!
If you buy “Diet Detox” directly from us you can bundle and save! Use the code “DIETDETOX” at checkout to save 20% on all bundles (orders of 2 or more)!
Nicole resides in the East Bay Area where she works in private practice as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. She is a Mom of two and serves alongside her beloved husband in their local church. Most recently she's devoted her time to cleft and craniofacial awareness, education and interventions when her second daughter was unexpectedly diagnosed with a cleft palate at one week old. She completed both her bachelor's degree and her dietetic internship at California State University, Chico, where she was also a NCAA cross country and track athlete. Through those experiences, God prompted her to help people of all shapes and sizes discover health, body peace and acceptance through the unconditional love of Jesus. Nicole most enjoys spending time around a table and eating delicious food with the people she loves.
