Eating at an Italian wedding ... suggestions?

maglodee
maglodee Posts: 46 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
I have an Italian wedding tomorrow, complete with a 9 course meal, plus wedding cake, plus dessert table, plus open bar. The plates are brought to the table, so I don't really have the opportunity to select my own meal.

Does anyone have any suggestions on managing this many meals, or do I throw caution to the wind for one night and just indulge? Should I eat normally during the day, or limit my damage by fasting until dinner?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
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Replies

  • maddiedog22
    maddiedog22 Posts: 116
    I would just do a cheat day. Obviously if ur full don't keep eating but enjoy the food. My boyfriend is full Italian and they make the best food, I actually just had Italian wedding soup today lol. Just work it off tomorrow, have fun!
  • samhelen
    samhelen Posts: 98
    Eat and then Dance all night... and dance, and dance, and dance.... Enjoy it! Taste everything and enjoy it!
  • NiekaM
    NiekaM Posts: 5
    I agree that a "cheat day" is in order. Just make sure all next week is "recover week!"
  • vizamy
    vizamy Posts: 60 Member
    I agree. Have fun. Don't worry. And get back on the normal track the next day.
  • pamperedhen
    pamperedhen Posts: 446 Member
    I am Italian and our weddings are the BEST!!!:drinker: Just indulge and enjoy it is only once in a while to enjoy this opportunity! Ciao!
  • courtneymal17
    courtneymal17 Posts: 672 Member
    Don't eat everything they put on your plate lol! Being Italian is part of what got me here lol! Eat small portions of stuff, lay off the bread, go for red sauces over white/cream/orange ones. Eat a bunch of salad and just take samples of everything else...oh and if tehy have wedding soup eat it all (love that stuff!) Just enjoy but eat sensibly...dont eat an entire plate full of pasta...stick with chickens and means and soups and salads for the big portions and take smaller portions of pasta.
  • littlelily613
    littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
    eat what you want, but don't overstuff yourself. What I mean is: you probably don't get to go to weddings on a daily basis, so indulging shouldn't hurt you much. Once you are satisfied, slow down on the eating. Eat in moderation--especially the rich things--but don't worry too much about calorie intake for that one day.
  • mom2mozart
    mom2mozart Posts: 307 Member
    Italian Wedding means dancing. You should be able to burn off plenty of calories if you commit to kicking off your shoes
    and joining the celebration... Enjoy the food, making sure you eat the salad and soup... Then just "taste" everything else.
    You will be fine.

    I would be careful with the drinks. Plenty of water... Even if you drink alcohol, drink a glass of water in between each drink.

    It's all about moderation.
  • maglodee
    maglodee Posts: 46 Member
    Thanks, everyone!

    I'll go, eat and drink and dance! I'll try to mind the portions and just sample everything, but I know it will be hard. I'm really afraid of the wine with the calories, and it's affect on lowering my judgement! My biggest fear is waking up Sunday morning having gained back the 16lbs I just worked so hard to lose!

    I guess fasting won't really matter when I'm likely to ingest thousands of calories over my limit anyways, but I'll do my best! Thanks again!
  • nickyrobinson
    nickyrobinson Posts: 161 Member
    I find if I sip from my husband's glass of wine, I drink a LOT less. Of course, you'll need something to toast with, but the old "water in the wineglass" trick can help with that, too.
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
    Rule 1.
    If it doesn't look great, then don't bother.
    Rule 2
    If you do like it, only eat about 1/2 the portion if its a bog portion.
    If its a small portion eat the whole thing
    Rule 3
    dance, dance, dance
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Have a nice time at the wedding.
  • MyFeistyEvolution
    MyFeistyEvolution Posts: 1,014 Member
    Eat sensible portions and enjoy yourself! Don't stress!!
  • ashleab37
    ashleab37 Posts: 575 Member
    Cheat day, enjoy it. And even though us Italians are pigs and eat huge portions, those 9 courses at the wedding WILL be small portions, too! Your pasta dish will be 3 pieces of ravioli. ;)
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    Have two of everything, drink a tad too much wine and dance your butt off! Italian weddings are the best!
  • ashleab37
    ashleab37 Posts: 575 Member
    To gain back that 16lb, you'd need to eat nearly 60,000 cal. I somewhat doubt that! ;)
  • I have an Italian wedding tomorrow, complete with a 9 course meal, plus wedding cake, plus dessert table, plus open bar. The plates are brought to the table, so I don't really have the opportunity to select my own meal.

    Does anyone have any suggestions on managing this many meals, or do I throw caution to the wind for one night and just indulge? Should I eat normally during the day, or limit my damage by fasting until dinner?

    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

    Eat. Everything. Enjoy it. Don't log it. Don't stress. Eat like you normally do the next day.
  • maglodee
    maglodee Posts: 46 Member
    You guys are awesome! There are some really good suggestions here. I will try to moderate my portions, drink less wine, drink more water, and keep my *kitten* on the dance floor! Most importantly, I will not stress about over-eating, and just have fun. This will be the killer of all cheat days, but what hangs over me is that I was skinny before I married an Italian so I know what damage can be done! :bigsmile:

    Thanks again for all your support!
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    Haha, I was going to suggest exactly what you said you are going to do. Those Italian weddings are nothing but eating and dancing. Enjoy it! That couple and their parents are spending a FORTUNE on it, trust me. Have some fun. 10 years from now the memory of having a great time and not worrying about the food is what will matter.

    I am going to an Italian birthday party tomorrow, 1 year old. It will be as lavish as my wedding, I guarantee it,. LOL!
  • christina0089
    christina0089 Posts: 709 Member
    If I know italians and I do the food will be abundant as will the spirits but then so will the dancing! So eat and enjoy then dance the calories away! :)
  • foramanwhohashope
    foramanwhohashope Posts: 90 Member
    Just enjoy it. :) Don't worry about counting your calories for a day. Just logg it. Who cares if you go over one day?
    You have to spoil yourself every once in a while.
  • portion control, just because they serve it doesn't mean you have to eat it. :)
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    If I fast until diner I get too hungry then go way overboard.

    Eat the healthiest food you can during the day. So you get in some nutrition with out too many calories

    At the wedding
    Eat what you want, but first ask yourself the question...
    "Do I really WANT this or am I just eating because it's here?"
    Don't deprive yourself, but even if it is something you usually love don't wast calories on things you aren't in the mood for right now.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Can I come? :tongue: Sounds like heaps of fun! I would echo what's already been said - enjoy yourself without going overboard (because that overstuffed feeling sucks, and is not conducive to dancing the night away!), drink plenty of water and have fun! If you can, get a good workout in earlier in the day.
  • anfmusicgrl
    anfmusicgrl Posts: 63 Member
    Eat and enjoy!

    Seriously though, the other day I was very worried about my mom's surprise b-day party at an authentic italian restaurant where I'm from. I ate pretty light that day, to leave room for excess calories, ate delicious food, had a piece of her cake, and had a great time! I drank water instead of soda; I chose vinagarette dressing over ranch; and I didn't eat 10000 pieces of bread.. BUT I did indulge, ate more than I usually do calorie wise, and guess what? I lost 1.8 lbs within 24 hours of that meal. Sometimes you just gotta live :) You can still make decent decisions, while indulging. So, a high calorie day might mean eating maintenance calories that day, instead of 4,000 calories that day!

    Good luck, and have a great time! Sometimes my body loves me by dropping some weight when I have a day like that anyways!
  • j77r68
    j77r68 Posts: 271 Member
    All I can say is GoodLuck. We went to my husband's cousins a few years ago and we could NOT get over the food. It just kept coming and coming. The few suggestions I read- cheat day and eat then dance, dance and dance some more seem like good suggestions. You will only be able to put in approximations for the food since you really have no idea what is in everything but do as much as you can. Eating as much fruits and veggies that you can get your hands on to help your numbers. Other than that get your groove on, don't overstress about it- it is only one day after all and have fun !!!
  • I have an Italian wedding tomorrow, complete with a 9 course meal, plus wedding cake, plus dessert table, plus open bar. The plates are brought to the table, so I don't really have the opportunity to select my own meal.

    Does anyone have any suggestions on managing this many meals, or do I throw caution to the wind for one night and just indulge? Should I eat normally during the day, or limit my damage by fasting until dinner?

    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

    Am I the only one that thought the open bar was the best part? :drinker:
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    It sounds AMAZING!! I would just cut way back on calories the rest of the week and that day, then go all out for the wedding!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,021 Member
    Get up early and have a good workout. Then enjoy the wedding.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
    I would just not eat anything that day, except at the wedding of course. That way you have room for everything.
This discussion has been closed.