Social gatherings and outings centered around food

I was in the same boat until i was 25 or something! Couldn't go anywhere without eating something. But I decided to stop. It wasn't easy, but it's definitely doable...

I can't really relate to the farmer's market thing because when I go, it's pretty much to buy food for later (although yeah, the one here has a delicious bakery stand, and I did buy something there last time, but it was planned). But they don't have samples.

For your other examples though... I don't see the problem with it. Just plan your day around it and make better choices... Get a black coffee, get some grilled chicken and veggies as a meal etc. You don't HAVE to get the high calorie food, but you have to eat anyway (to survive, you know), so just make it your planned meal.

I'm not going to lie though, I don't go out as much as I used to but it's really to save money as a whole...

#firstworldproblem We are fortunate that there is food available around every corner. Some people aren't that lucky. This "problem" really comes down to self control. Eat to fuel. Eat when hungry. And never shop on an empty stomach.

I have never snacked at a Farmer's Market or bought baked goods/jams. While (whilst?) the idea of a picnic in the park sounds lovely, I've never had one. I go to the park or I eat lunch. Not usually both. And, honestly, after trying on clothes, the last thing I want to do is eat lunch!

Food is always going to be there. You don't have to eat it.

Letting food dictate your life to the point you don't feel able to step out of the door is the point you need to seek help.

Lots of good advice here and all I can add is during comp prep when my dieting is at it strictest I always have my cooler packed and with me. Armed with that so I'm never without my meals and determination to reach my goal I was able to have a life, sure I got funny looks at gatherings whipping out my cold chicken and asparagus but I'd laugh it off and then it wasn't a big deal. I had to learn to say no A LOT but that sacrifice was worth it to me and as another poster said I always kept in my head that the food would always be there when I was done dieting.

Your diet should fit your lifestyle not the other way round.

My friends and I get together for potlucks about once a week, so that's how we do our socializing. I don't stress about thee calories, and I've realized that I don't have to try everything (if I do then I only take a tbsp amount of each item).

If I know that I'm going somewhere and I'm going to indulge in a snack, then I rearrange my calories accordingly. I might only have an egg for breakfast, then a cookie or muffin at the farmers market. Or I might have a salad for lunch so I can get a treat at the mall. You could always just have a tea after shopping, or go for a walk down a path or through a park with friends instead of buying things at the mall. For picnics, bring low calorie foods like watermelon, grapes, or popcorn instead of sandwiches, cheese, and crackers.

After re-reading your post, it stands out to me that you must have a lot of disposable income. If you make your budget a little tighter (for example by putting money into RRSPs or something), then you won't have as much income to spend on rich foods. Since our household went down to one income I've noticed a huge drop in my weight, and it's because we have a lot less money to spend on food. When you have less money to spend, then you get more creative with inexpensive activities

Last time I went to the Farmer's market a vendor asked me if i wanted to try the hummus. I said no I don't like hummus. He said well the hummus doesn't like you. I said that's fine as long as it doesn't jump into my mouth. I NEVER sample at Farmers markets because all those hands in the bag, basket or whatever...yuck! Where have they been??

The only activity that I really enjoy is walking my dogs and the first Sunday of the month we stop for ice cream. Shopping - I just want to get it over with. Going to the park - usually with my grandkids at we just play.

Going out with friends - we always go eat. I log it and that's the end of it. Good luck to ya!!

Food is inherently enjoyable and pleasurable and pairing it with social activities is normal. However I am an advocate of eating when you actually feel hungry, not simply because food is there, although sometimes it is just there and you want to sample a f-ing peach at a Farmer's Market, so go for it and enjoy life.

Disordered eating begins with guilt, restricting, overthinking, and villianizing food. Aim to find mental balance and peace in your relationship with food, and health and a balanced body will follow.

I think that you are making the activities around food when they are not about that at all.

Try to schedule your social time at different times than your breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

For example, if you are going to the farmer's market Saturday morning, wake up early and have your breakfast before you go.

The farmer's market can be about enjoying the outdoors, buying fresh eggs and veggies -- not necessarily sampling every man handled piece of rosemary bread and every single dipping sauce.

If a vendor offers, just say "No thanks, I'm not hungry" -- keep in mind that in these cases, the vendors can be very pushy because their livelihood literally depends on you taking home another loaf of artisanal bread or chocolate covered whatever.
So it is important that you remember than they have an ulterior motive for pushing their samples on you, and that their (financial) goal should *not* get in the way of you achieving your weight loss goals.

Always keep your goals in mind. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't sample the bread if you are genuinely thinking about buying it. One sample is not going to break you. But sampling just because it is offered, when you may not be even hungry *and* there are 100 vendors offering samples ...well, that's unnecessary.

Walking through a department store should not be about food. I mean, I can see how it would be if you scheduled the shopping trip for 6:00 p.m. and you are starving because you haven't eaten in hours and the mall food is so convenient.

But, for the most part, getting makeup at Sephora, or a lawn mower at Sears are not inherently food centered activities unless you want them to be.

I go to the park with friends once or more a week and I can say that only once in my life have I felt compelled to bring a picnic basket. It was planned, so I made choices I was comfortable with in regards to what I ate and what I chose to bring with me in the basket.

Going out with friends is a different story. Because I am assuming that you are making set plans to go out to eat or drink, right?
In this instance you have two choices if you want to stay on track:
a) take the IIFYM approach and plan your macro and caloric allotment so you have a lot of flexibility for what to eat and drink
b) Plan ahead and study menus to make the best choices with what is offered.

You always have choices, even when you decide to stick to your weight loss goals
For example, if you are going to the movies with your friends you can either, adjust your eating earlier in the day to allow for your medium popcorn with butter and M&Ms OR you can eat a filling dinner prior to the movies and not snack there.

Your social activities are not in control of what you consume. But you have to plan ahead in order to make conscious decisions about what you eat.

There's nothing wrong with sampling the dip, grabbing a coffee or eating popcorn. But, are you really hungry? or are eating just because?

If these treats are a priority to you; in order to stay on track you need to have a plan about how you are going to make these treats fit into your allotments. This takes planning.

Reaching goals usually take lots of hard work, discipline and planning.

But ultimately, it is is your choice. You are in control.

Here's how I would handle all of your situations:

faithyang wrote: »

Hi all,
Example: Walking through a farmer's market. How could you not eat or sample anything there? Its not that you HAVE to, but its part of the enjoyment of viewing and trying local produce, then settling for a meal you enjoy. I never take free samples, unless it is a product I was thinking about buying and wasn't sure about. I know what a pepper tastes like. I know what cheese tastes like. I don't need to try it.

Example: Going out with friends. You almost ALWAYS have a coffee with them, even if its a walk through the park, and it always is interspersed, starts with or ends with a nice meal with them bonding over some good food. I drink black coffee. You can drink a nice cup of tea and walk about. There's nothing wrong with a nice meal over good food. You can work in some extra exercise in anticipation of a meal outing, or order something light, or cut back in your other meals that day/that week.

Example: Walking through a department store. You tend to walk around, then stop by for lunch or dinner at a nice restaurant/cafe, then maybe stroll a little more somewhere. Is this a shopping day with friends? Then it's the exact same situation as above. Eat lightly OR exercise more OR cut back your calories elsewhere for the week.

Example: Park. You bring a picnic basket filled with food even if its healthy, or you stop by or end the activity you have planned at a coffee stand, a food cart, a cafe.For what? Food? Or Coffee? See either of the above examples. Black coffee/tea, or cut back calories elsewhere, or workout.

I do a LOT of social events that revolve around food- restaurants, brunches with other couples, beer brewing days, beer and wine festivals where the only food is food truck deliciousness. The key is that I plan ahead. I never wander into restaurants or coffee shops. I meet up with friends at bars and sometimes we plan to "go where the wind takes us" but usually we have dinner reservations if we plan to eat out. The key, I've found, is just pick one thing that is worth going nuts on. If I'm going to a beer festival with bottomless samples, I decide to be the DD the night before at happy hour. If I'm going out to lunch with my girlfriends, I make sure I take the dogs for a run that morning because I want to eat at that french place with all the cheese. It's about balance.