Day 6 of my top 30 for 30: Know that your social situations may change, especially when it comes to meals away from home. How do you handle social situations that involve food, such as going to a friend or family member’s house or a restaurant?
Here are some of the strategies that Rick and I have employed in such situations:
- For a friend or family member, we have offered to bring a dish to share with everyone, which usually brings a happy sigh of relief from the host. And you may find that your dish is one of the first to disappear with lots of smiles and requests for the recipe!
- If you are going to a restaurant with a group of people (such as co-workers or family members), you can suggest a restaurant where you know you can get a healthy dish.
- If the group chooses another restaurant that you’re not familiar with, you can call the restaurant ahead of time to see if the menu contains some healthy items, and if not, you can see if the restaurant is open to special requests. During the past 30 years, we have found it to be progressively easier to find dishes we like at most restaurants.
- Another useful strategy is filling up on healthy food before going out, so you can be assured that you will not be left with undesirable menu choices and a hungry stomach.
- What matters most is what you eat consistently, day in and day out, not what you might consume once a month or a few times a year at various types of social gatherings. So, if you end up eating something that you wouldn’t normally, notice how you feel, without judgment, and get back on track the next day.
By the way, you can find the recipe for this raw pumpkin pie in our holiday recipes eBook that you can receive when you register for our email list.
What has been your experience with social situations? What healthy eating strategies have worked for you?