Dinner at someone else's house?

transylvaniaxx

My boyfriend is coming home for Thanksgiving Break soon... We often have dinner at his house. However, his family often has pasta, burgers, polish sausage... Things super high cal that I know wouldn't fit into my diet! I don't want to be rude and not eat, but only eating a little bit isn't nearly filling enough for me. I feel weird asking her to see the packages from the food, too, to count my calories. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you stick to your diet when eating at someone else's house?

BeccaB1981

I was just thinking about this same thing this morning... I am interested in hearing how others handle this too.

ElizabethRoad

Maybe you could eat before you go, so you can just eat a little bit and not be hungry.

If you are close then you could ask to see the packages but I would just do my best to estimate.

Codefox

If people are insulted that you're not eating food because you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle, they're the ones being rude, not you.

ameyc2002

was thinking maybe a few things very low in calories b4 you go. and just nibble. thats what i did last weekend when i went to a bday party

RNewton4269

I eat before I go over to someone's house, and do my best guess to count the calories I have. Did it at a party this summer and it worked pretty well. My friends and family know I am watching what I eat so this helps

PJFaber

Offer to help out by bringing something. Then bring a veggie tray or sides that you know won't sabotage you. Or you can do the best at eat small portions and enjoy the day with friends with no thougthts about it. One day does not have to ruin the whole week.

ShelleyD81

If I have this situation arise I usually try to save as many calories as possible throughout the day, eat low cal things to save so that I can enjoy myself without worrying too much

trybefan

If I know that I am heading somewhere that I am not going to be willing to eat much, I do a protein shake. Honestly, as someone else mentioned, if they are insulted by your choices, then they are being rude.

tanyaMax

perhaps you could bring a dish or two of healthy food

melmarler

I would get their help calculating by seeing the packages or asking ingredients after explaining that you are tracking your food to try to lose weight/be healthier. They may ask lots of questions about what/how you are doing and end up joining MFP and be very supportive. I often have lunch with my ex's mom and she is always open to my tracking my food. She is one of my biggest supporters.

MyCoachNYLA

My boyfriend is coming home for Thanksgiving Break soon... We often have dinner at his house. However, his family often has pasta, burgers, polish sausage... Things super high cal that I know wouldn't fit into my diet! I don't want to be rude and not eat, but only eating a little bit isn't nearly filling enough for me. I feel weird asking her to see the packages from the food, too, to count my calories. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you stick to your diet when eating at someone else's house?

I totally relate to this issue. I have to say that it depends on the lengths you will go to take care of your nutritional needs.

For myself, I actually communicate with the person who is cooking the food and just level with them in being honest to say that I am working a food plan to reach a goal and I need to be sure that I am getting the foods I need to accomplish that.

Sometimes, I will bring my own food and have it on my plate (most people won't do that because they are afraid of what people will think) or if the person really cares about me, they are willing to help and let me know what they are cooking and agreeable to me bringing a few things to add to what the main protein source is.

Or, I will eat before I get there and just have salad or bare minimum so that I am still taking care of myself as well as not offending the hostess of the party.

Hope some of that helps. Thanks for the topic. Great question.

Beatrix0810

I eat before I go over to someone's house, and do my best guess to count the calories I have. Did it at a party this summer and it worked pretty well. My friends and family know I am watching what I eat so this helps

I do this all the time. I eat before a date and just order something light, or eat before dinner at my bf's family's house. I only have 10 lbs to lose so if I tell people I'm trying to lose weight or watch what I eat, they usually have some really un-encouraging comments for me and I'm a sucker for peer pressure. Fill up on fruits and veggies and then just have a taste of all that delicious sounding food!

asyouseefit

I have the same problems at my in-laws. I usually try to go for the healthier options (if any), eat a little of the sinful stuff and work out later if possible. I usually don't log calories but try to guesstimate on the go.

chuckyp

Just eat. It's just one day. Enjoy life and time with friends and family.

KristinaD3

My sister recently had us come over for dinner. Her husband made gumbo. I stopped at the store before I got there and bought things to make a salad. I used my baby as a decoy. I made a bowl of gumbo and played it off like I was feeding it to both of us only taking a few bites and then I ate my salad lol.

My1985Freckles

Eat a little something low cal before you go.

I always get some extra cardio in beforehand.

Remember, if you go over your calories once in a while, it does not make you a failure and will not ruin your weight loss journey. :-)

Mynue_Jeens

I agree, bringing something you know you can eat is always a good idea and is always helpful at a party. For me though I just try to pick out the things I like and are not too bad for me, however these are the events that I use to indulge since I'm usually pretty good for the weeks leading up to big dinners/parties.

Remember everything in moderation. It's okay to have a cheat day every now and again.

brittharper123

offer to bring a dish and make it a healthy one. if your having a burger dont hvae the bun just load on the veggies, if your having pasta then have 1 cup and 2 tbs of sauce if the sauce is already on it then cup your portion ect.....there are always ways around it with out hurting someones feelings. just portion yourrself the best you can. Skip dessert.
For me i never deprive myself of anything i just watch my portion size or make better choices....
for instance i LOVE dill pickle chips to munch on during a movie night with my husband instead of lays chips i get the dill pickle crispy minis and have 2 cups once i measure out my 2 cups i break them up so it seems like alot more then 2 cups im always satisfied.


Good luck

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Offer to bring something too, ask what the menu is and then bring something low cal (like a turkey cutlets or sausage dish) that will fit into the menu. Have some of yours, a little of theirs.

LJGmom

Go and enjoy responsibly. You can not turn off life. Just eat small portions, and try to get an extra workout in. Bringing a tray of veggies is a great idea! I had a burger on sunday, and I still stayed under my calorie goals. I figured it was about a 1/4 pounder. So if you take veggies, and a small portion of what their main coarse is, you should be fine! Just have fun!

trilikeagirl

If it's just once in awhile, I shut my mouth, eat the meal (sometimes eat before so I'm not so tempted to eat more bad things!) say thank you and guess at the calories in private. I'm trying not to be militant, just mindful. If it is on a regular basis, I explain what I am doing with nutrition and how it helps me, and offer to help cook or bring something, and do what I need to do. It's not rude.

ishapeme

I completely agree with the comments above to bring something you make and have small, very small portions of what they make. I know for me it would be torture to be around all that food and not have any. Also, prepare yourself physically and MENTALLY.

Put in extra workout time, have light day the day before.
Also, if your anything like me I have very bad self control. So I have to literally take time and think what my plan will be. What I absolutely want to eat, what I can live without trying out. Once you start eating ENJOY it. Every last bite. This is so important to feeling satisfying even though you didn't have bigger portions.

I hope this helps. I've become a pro at maintaining my weight during holiday season because of this process. I have 3 cooks in the family which is amazing but so tempting.

KateHubb

Agree with what everyone has said so far. Fortunately I don't have this problem often because the one main friend whose house we have dinner at is trying to lose weight also and she understands that I need to know calorie counts. Also my parents know so they are accommodating. I would do some extra cardio before, and depending on how comfortable you are with his parents, mention you are watching what you eat and don't make a big deal out of it. That way maybe they will understand why you didn't scarf down your whole plate. You may just have to guesstimate your calories, but one day off won't kill you. Just make the best decisions you can. Good luck!

WKenL

First of all, you should feel free to be honest -- you're trying to watch what you eat, and want to track calories, etc.. I don't think that most people would be upset by that. If they would, then perhaps asking your boyfriend bring it up beforehand would help ease into it.

Second, it is true that one day won't wreck you. I have Sunday lunch with my parents almost every week, and their cooking is a bit different from mine.

Still, I make sure to get plenty of exercise, and a bit extra, on those days, eat very small breakfast, etc..

As for logging, just estimate. Guess at what will match up as best you can.

sk2775

You can't avoid eating at someone else's house or going out to dinner forever...it is just one day. When you are there try to make the best decision and eat smaller portions. Offer to bring a side dish and if not, just workout that day and save up some calories and then enjoy the dinner.

gaylelynnbell

If you aren't comfortable talking to your boyfriend's mother, maybe he can do it for you. My son dated a girl for a while that was vegetarian. If he hadn't told me, it would have been an awkward situation for her when they came for dinner. We are big on grilling so I just made sure I had several kinds of veggies to throw on the grill and a big salad. Everyone was happy and well fed!

Skittlebrew

It isn't the end of the world if you deviate from your diet, unless you feel like you're the type of person who can't restrain yourself from jumping off the deep end, gorging yourself and ultimately losing your motivation to assimilate back into your diet routine. A diet shouldn't control you. Have control over yourself to stop eating when you are full and you should be fine.

atucker0821

Just eat. It's just one day. Enjoy life and time with friends and family.

i agree ^^

but i also agree with eating before you go so you won't eat so much of the bad stuff...

rodneyderrick

You know exactly when this day is going to happen, so it's your responsibility to ensure that you stick to your weight-loss goal up until that day. When you're with your boyfriend's family, enjoy the meal, socialize, smile, and the next day you continue with your weight-loss goals. There is no reason to fret because you're going to eat some fattening food, if you learn to understand that eating healthy, exercising, and taking care of your mind and body is a lifetime achievement, not something you do on a whim.

MinnieInMaine

Get a bit of calorie burn in earlier in the day and eat a filling snack before you go and then keep your portions low - that way you won't be starving but should still be ok with calories. I also like the idea of bringing something. When I go to BBQs in the summer, I make a light healthy pasta salad with lots of veggies - eat mostly that with just bites of other things.

Along the same lines - maybe volunteer to cook on or two nights that week and offer a healthier/lighter meal?