social eating

lauraj828
lauraj828 Posts: 45
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
i'm a bit frustrated with figuring out how to handle my friends. i absolutely LOVE spending time with them, but so much of what we do surrounds eating. this weekend everyone's going out to dinner and i really want to be a part of it, but the place they're going does not have nutritional information available, and i KNOW that there are very few healthy choices on the menu. how do you guys deal with these kind of situations?

Replies

  • lauraj828
    lauraj828 Posts: 45
    i'm a bit frustrated with figuring out how to handle my friends. i absolutely LOVE spending time with them, but so much of what we do surrounds eating. this weekend everyone's going out to dinner and i really want to be a part of it, but the place they're going does not have nutritional information available, and i KNOW that there are very few healthy choices on the menu. how do you guys deal with these kind of situations?
  • OomarianneoO
    OomarianneoO Posts: 689 Member
    i'm a bit frustrated with figuring out how to handle my friends. i absolutely LOVE spending time with them, but so much of what we do surrounds eating. this weekend everyone's going out to dinner and i really want to be a part of it, but the place they're going does not have nutritional information available, and i KNOW that there are very few healthy choices on the menu. how do you guys deal with these kind of situations?

    I say GO! You'll be able to find something there you can eat, I'm sure. If it's a sit-down social gathering kind of restaurant, then maybe you can stick with steamed veggies and grilled or baked chicken and of course you could always go with a salad with some meat in it. It may not look nearly as appealing as what they'll be eating, but you'll still get full and besides, you're there to socialize. Or if you really want to, you could just write the dinner off and just have a good time. You're not going to gain 5lbs. for a night off.
  • Marla64
    Marla64 Posts: 23,120 Member
    Ditto. What she said.
  • young1726
    young1726 Posts: 347 Member
    GO!!! You have to enjoy yourself every once in a while or this weight loss will be even harder. If you take everything you enjoy away you're just setting yourself up for failure! Have fun...and get back on the wagon the next day! YOU CAN DO IT!!!
  • itzcool4me
    itzcool4me Posts: 43
    These are hard for me too! Weight loss is about being healthier, but you can't completely deprive yourself either. There is still room for burgers and fries, birthday cakes, and other unhealthy things occasionally.

    When I go out to eat, I just do an estimate in my diary. I also write a food note that it's only an estimate and that it could be more/less. I don't do this to make myself guilty and see how many calories I went over. I do it because I still want to be accountable for everything I eat so I can't complain to myself later by saying, "Dieting doesn't work! I give up!"

    If you know you're going out to dinner on a certain night, then make a low calorie breakfast and lunch so you won't feel as guilty later.

    Enjoy your dinners! :drinker:
  • diegelmansm
    diegelmansm Posts: 90
    I know how you feel. It's like my best friend forces me to eat all the crap she does, and if I don't, she makes me feel guilty about it all day long. She just refuses to take no for an answer.
  • Poison5119
    Poison5119 Posts: 1,460 Member
    Eat before you go, and drink a big glass of water.

    Then, when you get there, ask if anyone else is watching cals, and perhaps share a plate with them.

    Barring that, stick with a salad and lowfat dressing.

    But by no means stay home. Go chill with your friends.
  • christelpistol
    christelpistol Posts: 246 Member
    - try saving your calories for that BIG dinner?

    - when you get your meal, ask for a to go box and immediately put half in there?

    - look up the restaraunt's website before you go and find what you;d like to eat and research the nutritional info before you go?
  • lessertess
    lessertess Posts: 855 Member
    You're going to deal with these situations for the rest of your life. So much of our social life revolves around food. You might as well come up with a stategy now on how to deal with it as you don't want to stop going out with your friends. I have to do a lot of business dinners and my friends are mostly "foodies" so I know where you're at right now. A few tips:

    1. Order water or a calorie free drink
    2. Do not indulge in the bread basket or any other befores like chips, peanuts, etc.
    3. Be careful of salads--by the time you add in cheese, bacon bits, croutons and salad dressing you might as well have a burger and fries.
    4. Order something grilled or steamed and the veggies (avoid creamed, fried, covered in cheese,etc)
    5. If you order a potato get it with salsa rather than butter or sour cream
    6. Do not order dessert.
    7. Watch your portions.

    If you do want to indulge in a cocktail, wine or dessert, just make sure to eat a little less during the rest of the day and to add an extra 30 minutes onto your exercise routine. Also, do some research before hand on cocktails. I was appalled at the calories in a margarita or a mojito.

    When in doubt I order either grilled fish, grilled shrimp, or the smallest steak on the menu and the vegetable medley. You can actually have a 6 oz steak, potato with salsa and the vegetable medley in most restaurants for around 500 calories.

    Have fun and don't make a big deal of your diet. Most of my friends know I'm counting calories and are supportive but I'm careful to treat it lightly so that it doesn't put a damper on their evening.

    Have fun!
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