Cool as a Cucumber

Sorry this post is going up so late. It’s been one hectic day.

Today I want to touch on what to do at parties. Now I don’t mean etiquette wise, I mean food choice wise.

I tend to get pretty flustered in social situations. I’m never sure what kind of food is going to be available. And on top of that if people around me are eating I feel like I need to join in.

I’ll be honest, this isn’t really a problem I’ve conquered yet. But I do have a couple of strategies that I try to use when I am at a party/gathering.

• Eat before you go. I try to eat something before I even leave the house, because I know if I show up to the party hungry I’m going to make a lot of poor choices because I won’t be thinking clearly about the food in front of me.

• Don’t engage in conversation where the food is. This might seem like a no-brainer, but I was at a party (tonight actually) where we sat around the kitchen table that was covered in chips, chocolate, and cake.  I’m not really sure how many mindless handfuls of food I grabbed, but I’m sure it was a lot.
• If you really need to grab something to eat, eat veggies. I could have saved myself a lot of calories tonight by choosing the healthier options.
• Don’t eat food unless it’s on your plate. By putting food on your plate you are more aware of what you’re eating.
• Drink seltzer/diet soda/ water instead of sugary drinks. Granted diet soda isn’t really the best option for you, but if you know you’re going to be eating extra calories to begin with, why drink them too?
• Allow yourself to indulge in the things you really want. Now, this may seem counterproductive, but it really isn’t. I find that if I survey my options before making any decisions and pick out the foods that I rarely get to eat I am less likely to overeat. The trick is to put your portion on your plate and walk away. Don’t linger around the food.

Do you have tricks you use to stop yourself from over-indulging at parties?

I have to admit that sometimes I feel like people are critical of what I am eating, and that usually deters me from eating as much. But it’s silly to let other people make my food choices for me. I am an adult. If I eat too many sugary foods, or have too much junk one week and I gain weight then that’s my responsibility. I need to recognize that my choices are my own, and no one elses. I can only grow as a person if I learn from my own mistakes.

That being said, I failed at using the techniques I wrote above at the party tonight. But that’s okay. I’m not perfect. This is a journey. Being healthy is a journey, just because I stumble does not mean I should give up entirely. It’s nights like tonight where I remind myself of how far I have truly come. The old me would eat anything, and everything, and not even think twice.

Well, this chick is hitting the hay, I have to be up for another 6 am shift tomorrow.

Catch you later, Blogland!

Questions for you:

Do you feel more conscious of your food choices in public? How does this affect what you eat? How do you cope with critical people?