Tips on social eating?

galfindgmoneyyeah

One thing that has really worked for me is bringing along a snack I'm comfortable eating to share with the group. I'm often the one showing up with fruit salads, air-popped popcorn, veggie chili, etc. It's a good way to share with my friends and being able to eat with them without being overcome by stress or hunger.

KBmoments

I was always nervous about this, too... until I realized that I have the power to decide what to eat or not. Sounds silly, but I always felt like I had to eat so much food when I went out to dinner with friends... Now realizing that it's in my control to eat how much and what, it's gotten way easier. At work, we always celebrate birthdays with cake and it get's pushed down our throats. Now, instead of being guilt-ed into eating a lot of it, I will just take a piece and eat half or just a bit. No one notices or cares how much you eat.

petitehealth

Great suggestions everyone! I also plan/ask ahead, bring a healthy option, and tell people you already ate if they are giving you a hard time.

With the donuts/treats at work, sometimes people give me such a hard time, I just take one and throw it away at my desk or just eat a bite or two. I don't know why people care so much if I want to be healthy!

Blondiez73

abigailjoywiebe wrote: »

I'm a social eater. If someone else is eating, I want to eat with them. I've finally gotten past the point of having to eat with them, but when friends invite me over for dinner and they serve pizza, I have a really hard time saying no and/or don't know how to tell them I'm trying to watch what I eat without being rude. Any tips?

Eat before you leave, if you know food is going to be served. Have a salad. Fruit. Bowl of cereal. Whatever. Or, you can bring your own food and share it with them, if you made enough. I would always carry something around with you for those "oh crap" moments. You can always say "no thank you", and no, that is not being rude.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

BumbleBreeBuzz

If I'm going out to a restaurant, i look up the menu ahead of time, try to find the calorie content for the menue if possible and decide what I am going to have before we get to the restaurant. That way, I can feel confident and comfortable while I am out

labohn91

No is not rude, if you have goals and your friends are impeding them they are being rude. On the other hand if you don't go out because of your diet then you need to find balance. This won't work over the long haul if you can't enjoy yourself without worry of falling off. Life is a long beast.

47Jacqueline

I like social eating because I enjoy being around people. I learned to pay attention to what's going on rather than what's going into my mouth. When I focus on the event, I don't eat a lot.

And the other thing I learned is that I have social anxiety, so I get an upset stomach if I eat too much in a social situation. so it's better to focus on the activity than the food. I eat enough to feel comfortable and then start a conversation.

paperpudding

shell1005 wrote: »

kat_princess12 wrote: »

When one is asked over for dinner, and one accepts, and then refuses to eat what is served, that is rude and ungracious. But you are already asking how to handle these situations, so I'm assuming you also recognize this.

In addition to the excellent suggestions already offered, build yourself a repertoire of gracious phrases that essentially mean "No". "Oh, I couldn't possibly eat another bite!" "Oh, Ethel, I've had so much pizza already I'm afraid I'll simply burst!" And if they become insistent, redirect: "But perhaps I could have just another bite or two of this delicious salad!"

My response to this: PFFFT!!!!

So I have to either stuff my face with things I don't want to eat or come up with trickery and lies to not to rude or ungracious? Yeah....nope.

I ask what I can bring. I eat what I choose to eat. I assume someone invited because they wanted my company not to watch and scrutinize my dinner plate.

I wouldn't out right lie and say I am allergic to something when I'm not or I've been out to a restaruant for lunch when I haven't - but I don't see vague general variations on No thanks such as I'm full already as trickery or lies.

Lexieberry

Ppl generally don't care about what u eat. So enjoy a Lil portion and drink lots of water to fill up

ebbingfat

I would recommend just having what is being served (if you want some), but just limit yourself to a reasonable amount. And if you know ahead of time that you're going to be eating at a social gathering, maybe try to eat smaller meals earlier in the day so that you have more calories left for later.

You could always bring something with you, too. If your friends are ordering pizza for dinner, you could always toss together a salad or something and bring it along to serve as a side. Fruit and veggie trays are my go-to for this sort of thing.

jaqcan

I am probably going against most people here and say, eating before hand is a bad idea. Don't go starving, but if you eat first, and are still tempted and give in, then you've eaten THAT many MORE calories. Go with a plan. Work 1 piece of pizza into your plan, take a 2 liter of diet soda, and a bag of baby carrots to share. Put a piece of pizza on your plate, and fill the rest with baby carrots (and a little ranch, cause it's yummy) then eat the baby carrots slowly, leaving the pizza for last. Then when the eating is dying down, eat your pizza and you'll be done the same time everyone else is, and no one will offer you more! If anyone asks, you're "saving the best for last", cause you are right!