What do you do when you eat at a friend's house?

lysistrataNix
lysistrataNix Posts: 125 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have a friend who likes for my family to come over a couple times and month and eat with her family. I have nothing against it, but I'm trying to watch what I eat and I'm trying to figure out if I should keep my portions super tiny or what. My friend doesn't really eat "healthy" things, and I've, for the most part, completely re-vamped my entire diet. I know one night of eating like that is fine, but I was wondering if anyone else happens to be in similar situations and what you do about it.

Thanks!
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Replies

  • martintanz
    martintanz Posts: 280
    Stick with your program. You could offer to make a salad for them.
  • Mistyblu08
    Mistyblu08 Posts: 580 Member
    yup thats what I would do too....ask to bring something to share that will go well with what she is making and eat that as your main portion then try lil bits of what she has available so as to not hurt her feelings but if she asks just be honest and say your trying to get healthier now :) she will understand and be fine with it....good friends are there for you.....or you could also ...if you know ahead of time when you are going over....to save extra calories from prior days....get good workouts in and lots of water to help flush then just eat what she has but keep mind on portions and have good time:)
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    I eat something small and healthy beforehand so I am just careful with my portions.
  • kg2run
    kg2run Posts: 25
    Offer to bring something and make it something healthy that you'll eat. I probably wouldn't eat anything before hand because even watching what you eat you're probably eating more than you think you are.

    I allow myself to enjoy being out in moderation, but typically when we do things like that it is a potluck and I bring something healthy.

    The other option is to offer to alternate having them over every other time.
  • csuhar
    csuhar Posts: 779 Member
    If possible, I try to watch what I eat during the rest of day so that I don't need to worry so much about going over my goals when dinner comes around. That just requires some forwarning.

    Then, at dinner, I usually try to keep the portions small. If they notice the smaller portions, I try to explain by give them a compliment (which, because the friends I eat with tend to be foodies, is usually true): "I'm trying to watch my weight, but everything's so good I don't want to miss out on giving everything a taste."
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    Eat what they're serving, just less of it.
  • Berto0391
    Berto0391 Posts: 273 Member
    Eat what they're serving, just less of it.

    THIS!!!!
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    Eat what they're serving, just less of it.

    this, and also to bring a salad to pass!!!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    If you know you're going to have a less-than-perfect dinner at your friend's house, make sure the rest of your day is perfect and just enjoy your meal with your friends.

    Think of the 80/20 rule. One "bad" meal a week is only about 5% of your weekly meals. If you're eating good the rest of the time, that's a 95/5 ratio, not an 80/20 ratio. :wink:
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I love the idea of offering to bring a salad!
    Just be sensible about how much you eat, and try to minimize the portions of the "less healthy" options they have. Small amount of macaroni and cheese. Larger portion of roast chicken or vegetable side dish, for example.
  • capnrus789
    capnrus789 Posts: 2,736 Member
    I drink whatever beer is in the fridge and tell them I'm doing them a favor.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    If you know you're going to have a less-than-perfect dinner at your friend's house, make sure the rest of your day is perfect and just enjoy your meal with your friends.

    Think of the 80/20 rule. One "bad" meal a week is only about 5% of your weekly meals. If you're eating good the rest of the time, that's a 95/5 ratio, not an 80/20 ratio. :wink:

    This!
  • AmberJo1984
    AmberJo1984 Posts: 1,067 Member
    I would continue to go. I'm not necessarily in your situation... but, I usually go to a lot of meetings and parties (my mom loves Pampered Chef and Tupperware parties). I eat good the rest of the day, allowing myself a little room that night. Plus, I do good every other day. One day (or even 2 days) every week or so is not going to completely ruin you. Just use portion control.

    Good luck... and have fun.
  • martintanz
    martintanz Posts: 280
    Whether you indulge in what your friends serve depends on what it is. Do you have certain foods that represent red lines for you?
  • amymichelle1226
    amymichelle1226 Posts: 150 Member
    I would definitely bring a healthy option and eat small portions of everything else. And stick with water!
  • Meaganandcheese
    Meaganandcheese Posts: 525 Member
    Offer to bring something healthy to offset what they serve.
    Have a healthy snack and lots of water beforehand.
    Don't drink extra calories.
    Moderate portions

    Enjoy!
  • oneill31
    oneill31 Posts: 4
    Id also lovew advice on this! Getting together with friends and eating is just such a sociable thing to do! I have found in the past that when I dont eat, my friends notice and think there is something wrong with me, which draws unwanted attention! So I have started to bring my own "healthy" snacks, ir eat the healthier things they have to offer! Just try to keeo self control, its hard but it can be done :) good luck
  • amann1976
    amann1976 Posts: 742 Member
    i watch what i eat, and have a smaller portion. sometimes i just say no thanks or just have the veggies and salad or whatever healthy sides they made
  • mountainmare
    mountainmare Posts: 294 Member
    What does she serve that is so unhealthy? I disagree with those that say--bring spmething "healthy" to share--that is a slap in the face to your hostess unless you have always been bringing something. One dinner of extremely unhealthy food will not distroy your plan--life happens. If by "unhealthy" you are talking about a pasta dinner (is economical for company and easy to prepare or serve) or burgers on the grill (just have one) you can plan in advance and have it fit in your day.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Stick with your program. You could offer to make a salad for them.


    ^^^^This. Bring a salad or a side dish of something yummy and healthy for everyone. And stick to sensible portions for the rest of the meal. Enjoy!
  • amann1976
    amann1976 Posts: 742 Member
    one bad meal every so often is not going to wreck you or cause you to gain extra weight.
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    take something that you can eat as an addition to their meal.
  • AmyP619
    AmyP619 Posts: 1,137 Member
    I agree with eat what she's serving. I can't imagine she's serving something so unhealthy as to wreck your entire day/week. You can do portion control, as well. If I know I'm going out to eat or going somewhere else for dinner, I'm good for the entire day and save most of my calories for dinner. Just get back on track tomorrow. If it's once in a while, there's no harm done.
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    You have to be able to say no if it is something you honestly do not want to eat. YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT WHAT YOU DONT WANT TO MAKE OTHERS HAPPY! trust me, this only makes you unhappy afterwards. Make sure your friends are understanding and let them know ahead of time that you will bring something since you are on a stricter diet. Yes, it may not hinder your weight loss, but if you are they type that it would effect emotionally, then just do what you want to do.
  • Mistyblu08
    Mistyblu08 Posts: 580 Member
    I drink whatever beer is in the fridge and tell them I'm doing them a favor.

    lmbo love it!!!
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  • Mistyblu08
    Mistyblu08 Posts: 580 Member
    You have to be able to say no if it is something you honestly do not want to eat. YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT WHAT YOU DONT WANT TO MAKE OTHERS HAPPY! trust me, this only makes you unhappy afterwards. Make sure your friends are understanding and let them know ahead of time that you will bring something since you are on a stricter diet. Yes, it may not hinder your weight loss, but if you are they type that it would effect emotionally, then just do what you want to do.

    This definitely! Stay true to yourself! If they are good friends they are already gonna know you are trying to be healthy and arent going to mind you doing what you have to do to be healthy and will in fact encourage you....its not an insult to the host/hostess to bring something or take smaller portions....the old days of "burping" to signal that the meal was wonderful are bygone days lol in most cultures if you didnt burp you were rude lol just thought I would add that for a chuckle lol...anyways spent my life always trying to make other people happy ....one it never really works...some people are just never happy and two it made me feel miserable afterwards and mad at myself for not standing up and saying no thank you
  • cherbapp
    cherbapp Posts: 322
    I agree with whoever said not to bring the salad unless you have always brought something before. It's so annoying to people who are not trying to lose weight to have it brought up with the subtle suggestion that their food is 'bad'.

    Really the biggest problem in this country is portion sizes. Ok maybe not the BIGGEST....but the LARGEST? Lol

    Just take less. Spread it out on your plate. Eat their kind offering with pleasure. Get your workout in before you go, and eat lighter all day. Don't help 'clean up'....this is my problem....taking more because it looks good. So I avoid cleanup. Lol
  • lisabinco
    lisabinco Posts: 1,016 Member
    Stick with your program. You could offer to make a salad for them.
    Good advice! After years of being vegetarian, eating out and at other's homes, I know to bring something I can eat.
    Nowadays I also have to watch my sodium intake, so most people can accept my food portions and choices are for my health. It's not as threatening to them.
    I find people are more accepting of health-related "diet" needs than they are of ethics-related eating needs. So maybe a remark like "I need to watch my portions for my blood pressure (or whatever) these days." will help you out.
  • Miche11e5
    Miche11e5 Posts: 114 Member
    Plan for it by eating well for the rest of the day, bring a salad or something along (as others have suggested) and eat small portions.

    You could also take turns and have them to your place cooking for them on occasion too!

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