Both my husband and I took chemo during the holidays, we avoided crowded parties but did want to spend time with family. I would check in about menu before the gathering. This prevented hurt feelings about diet issues, by making sure there were menu items we could eat. Incidentally this is the time we started adding a lot of fresh cranberries and spices to our holiday diet, it was fresh and strong flavored, I always wanted tons of fresh things and spicy things. My husband and I both shunned dairy during chemo and heavy sauces or gravies were out. Chocolate tasted like air, no taste period, so we made treats with cinnamon and nutmeg and orange zest instead. Macadamia nuts are really high in fat so cookies with macadamia nuts is always in the baskets for my friends on chemo.