Sugary/unhealthy foods during celebrations....

Today we had a birthday party at the office and someone brought in a cream cheese pie. I had a tiny slice and it was about 200 cals .. but worth each bite! I will have a smaller dinner to compensate.

I just either eat something before hand so I can control myself at the event and am not so hungry, I think allow some room for cake.

its a celebration..I partake..its not as if celebrations are everyday..you have to learn how to do everything in moderation. i am east indian..so its tradition to atleast have a bite of the cake and whatnot to wish the person a long healthy life...my parents taught me that..and I teach my kids that..its doesnt mean i take 2 slices..but a bite..and it satisfies the sweet tooth

Yes, which is why I don't avoid them. Celebrations are the things that make life worth living, and you will take my slice of birthday cake when you pry it from my cold, dead, happy hands.

Why do people assume that it's necessary to eat unhealthy food to 'celebrate'?
Yes, if you enjoy cake, there's nothing at all wrong with having it sometimes. Go for it!
But there's also nothing at all wrong with choosing not to partake in unhealthy things, even when lots of other people do.

The cultural significance of unhealthy types of food, amounts of food, methods of eating, and whatnot are a major contributor to unhealthy lives.

To the OP - eat some if you want it. But don't ever eat something you don't want to eat just because other people try to guilt you into it.

Here at the office, we celebrate birthdays once a month (for everyone who had a birthday during the month). When I first began my journey to a better exercise and nutrition plan, I would skip out on eating a slice (I would be there to show support as we sang happy birthday).

Now that I'm at or near my goal weight, if I feel like having a small slice, I'll do so (200-400 calories). I know that one slice per month wont blow up my nutrition plan. The key is to use it as a rare treat and not every day. Some like to have a treat as part of their "cheat meal" and I say to each their own. Do whatever works for you.

I advise that if you feel like having a rare treat and you stay under your calorie goal, then it's okay to do so. When I began my journey, I knew I was not going to live the rest of my life without ever eating something sweet or gooey (I love Rudy's pudding). If you feel that having a treat may return you to your bad habits, then you have to abstain until your healthy food habits are formed.

Well said!

Um. Why wouldn't you eat the cake? The cake isn't going to suddenly put on 5 pounds. Celebrate life's moments, otherwise its all just one long boring walk to the grave.

Words to live by.
And let's not even get started on what merits "healthy" or "unhealthy food" here... :can of worms:

It is really not *necessary* to eat to celebrate. I think it's very telling of the unhealthy mindset that everyone here equates eating with celebrating. It is entirely possible to celebrate without eating anything at all.
As for what is healthy and unhealthy, there may well be grey area, but you have to be pretty deluded to come up with any system that lets you put birthday cake under 'healthy'. Doesn't mean you can't have it. Sure, there would be different ideas as to what level of unhealthy. but surely everyone has the sense to recognise that it simply isn't 'healthy'.

If it's not wrong to opt out of birthday cake because you're lactose intolerant, and it's not wrong to opt out of dinner wine because you're a recovering alcoholic, I see no reason that it could be wrong to opt out of birthday cake because you find it addictive and want to stay away for your own health.
Anyone who would think less of you for making healthy choices is not someone whose opinion you should care about.

I agree. I have had fat friends say to me, "Oh, come on---just one little piece of cake won't hurt you." To me it sounds like a drunk saying to a reformed alcoholic, "Oh come on--just one little drink won't hurt you."

Um. Why wouldn't you eat the cake? The cake isn't going to suddenly put on 5 pounds. Celebrate life's moments, otherwise its all just one long boring walk to the grave.

I wish there was, like, a +1 button or something I could click for your post.