What To Avoid At The Holiday Table
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - As you gather around the table this Christmas, it might be a good idea to watch what you say and do to keep the festival bright.
We know to avoid religion and politics at the dinner table, but Dr. Stacey Cahn, associate professor of psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, suggests adding weight and exercise to the list because no one cares about your workout:
"It's just not as interesting to anyone else so whether Monday is your legs day and Tuesday is your arms day, especially for people in your family who may have physical limitations, it can make them feel uncomfortable like they have nothing to add to the conversation."
She also urges hosts to think about the seating arrangement:
"Larger people -- whether they're overweight or not -- it's very thoughtful to place them where they don't have to shimmy and squeeze past other guests to leave the table. Chairs that don't have arms are often appreciated by larger guests."
And try to accommodate people with special diets, she says, or tell them to bring a dish they can eat.