When dining with others....

If you've been gaining weight, it simply means that you are eating more calories per day than your body burns. Instead of making drastic diet changes that you know probably aren't going to be sustainable for you, simply try gradually cutting down on your portion sizes first. Eat more slowly. Walk more. Start tracking your food intake here on MFP for a few weeks. Use a food scale. That will give you the information you need to make an informed decision on changes you may need to implement.

I have noticed the same thing...about women choosing salads at group meals. I always wondered if it was for the sake of appearing to be health conscious. i know that restaurant salads can be as high or higher calorie than other menu items. Your lunch choice may not actually be higher calorie than the salads

I don't generally eat a heavier than normal lunch because it makes me sleepy in the afternoon and because I prefer to have s bigger evening meal.

I think my choices differ from others I eat with now toward the lighter side. I tend to be smaller than the people I eat with so they eat differently anyway. I usually am eating with a mix of people of different genders, ages, sizes. Most people don't order salads. Before watching my calorie intake I ate the same food and quantities as most people.

I get a side salad instead of fries with my sandwich. I might skip things with cheese, breading, gravy. I get a smaller portioned item or share with someone. I don't avoid bread but I would probably order something with less bread. I get an unsweetened tea. I do order salads as my main dish sometimes because I like them. I plan what I am going to order. I am not trying to appear healthier to anyone with my choices. I'm just getting food I like that fits my goals.

yes, and I always felt sad for others not taking advantage of the food available, like they were missing out and didn't know it. The food always was the celebration for me when eating with others. I'm trying to change my perspective and focus on the time with people, not the availability of food, but it's hard being very introverted and not particularly enjoying small talk around the table.

At a previous job I noticed that whenever we ordered out lunch, which was always from Subway because it was the only place around, 8 out of 10 of the women in the office ordered 12" subs and ate them all for that meal. That stuck out to me as unusual compared to eating with other women.

Anyway, I'd say that I tend to eat more protein-heavy meals than most of the other women I eat with. I eat salads a lot but they have meat on them or on the side. I had training a few weeks ago and we weren't allowed to take any outside food with us. The meals they served were more carb-heavy and protein-light than I am used to and prefer, which was a bummer. I told my husband that I felt like I was in a meat deficit for the week.