Christmas Eve in my matzo-pizza household looks a lot like a regular day. We savored our last latkes weeks ago, and Stephen’s family Christmas won’t happen until January (long story). In the meanwhile, though, I can’t help comparing our two families.

Jews and Italians have a lot in common: We talk with our hands. We have issues with volume control. We dole out guilt by the ton. And gatherings, even the most casual ones, revolve around food. In a decade together, Stephen and I have found more similarities than differences in our upbringings. This time of year, though, one obvious contrast emerges: While both our families serve enough for a dozen extra guests at holiday celebrations, the way we eat bears no resemblance. One side grunts and shovels for about fifteen minutes, and the other nibbles and tastes and drinks and laughs for hours. Care to guess which side is which?

I’ll give you a hint: I used to weigh 260 pounds.

Today at Attune Foods, I look at how two groups with such similar approaches to food can have such different approaches to eating. And how I’ve learned to navigate dueling feasts.

What’s your family’s MO for holiday meals? I’d love to hear about it.

Merry Christmas, if you’re celebrating!