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Staying On Diet Without Offending The Host
Photo Courtesy Of Savannah Grandfather
We never repent of having eaten too little. ~Thomas Jefferson, 1825
It’s hindu new year next week. Our way of celebrating is to visit everyone we know to wish them new year. And because it’s impossible to visit everyone in a day, the celebration goes on for a week, sometimes even a month. No one is left out – aunts, uncles, grannies, friends, relatives … we meet and catch up with all. And unfortunately, all of them choose food as a way to show their love. We are over stuffed with sweets, chocolates, special dishes etc which find their way to our stomach and somehow manage to stay there forever. It’s common to put on 3-5 pounds during this period. Tough time for those who are dieting or managing their weight.
Staying on a diet is difficult. And so is saying no to relatives and friends without offending them. (‘no’ is often taken personally making matters worse). Sometimes, it seems as if we need to stop socializing to be able to diet (of course this is not an acceptable option). So how does one exactly stay on diet without offending the host?
[I will be using 'host' loosely for friends, relatives ... anyone we visit]
Some strategies I use:
1. Declare You Are On A Diet
If the host-family is understanding and supportive of your diet, things couldn’t get easier. Simply share with them before hand that you are on a diet and assure them you will not be shy and have dishes which complement your diet.
2. Share A Plate
It’s difficult to figure out who had how much food when they are sharing the same plate. Share a plate with a friend, partner or sibling.
3. Take Small Portions
A little bit of everything on plate leaves no room for the host to insist you for more food. You can easily say that you will have more once you finish the food item off your plate.
4. Eat Slow, Chew More
Eating slow ensures that your plate is full and you look as if you have been eating for quite some time. This leads to an assumption that you have had lot of food and thus your host might not force you to have more.
5. Quit The Clean Plate Club
If your host fills your plate with food, or you have to take more just to please them, it doesn’t mean that you need to finish it all. It’s ok to leave food on the plate.
6. Appreciate Food Dishes Which You Can Have
Verbally appreciate food dishes you can have – this will shift focus to food dishes which complement your diet. If your host do ask you to have more, then it will be of dishes you want.
7. Conversate
Social gatherings are all about having meeting people and not about having food. Conversate, change focus from food to talks. It’s difficult for the host to keep track of who had how much food if he/she is engrossed in a conversation.
8. Say No Even If You Are Hungry
I prefer going back hungry and having some food at home rather than eating too much and then feeling guilty about it. Some people love to make you have food after you say no. Hence, say no when you are hungry – so that you can have one helping because they say so and yet, have eaten only as much as you wanted to.
What are your strategies on staying on diet without offending the host? Do share in comments.
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First of all, I do not agree with Thomas Jefferson.
8.- Concentrate on healthy food.
If there’s any available try for the salads (but beware of some dressings), fish. If you have announced your diet (see point 1), you will be more likely to find these.
9.- One day is one day, if it is one day
I mean you aren’t going to get any fatter for one piece of cake once in a long while.
Happy Deepavali Avani. Hopefully you will not gain that extra pound. I’m sending you a prayer just for that
Here in Malaysia, there is one custom that more people are forgetting. When we are eating in groups, we will usually eat at the same pace as everyone. Meaning, magically everyone will finish eating at the same time. No idea why the custom is as such but I believe it is meant to help us control our diet. when everyone is finish at the same time, we can safely say no to seconds offer.
Unless of course everyone in the group take seconds
Hi Avani – Wow – and that can last up to a month. I bet some people put on a heap of weight. I am lucky – I talk a lot when I’m eating and eat really slow. As you say it helps a lot.
Hi Avani: These tips will come in handy for the Christmas holidays. I get invited to endless family parties and there’s always food galore
@Miguel: I avoid eating wrong foods all together. Since if I have even a bit, the pull towards those foods gets stronger. Hats off to those who can control.
@Banji: Happy Diwali to you too
Malaysian custom is interesting. We don’t eat at same pace. But we do take rounds to make everyone have more sweets during weddings and festivities. No one is spared 
@Cath: Lucky you. And yes, 3-5 pound is kind of minimum gain.
@Marelisa: Yeah, these tips work everywhere. Balancing between enjoying food and managing food consumption gets tricky with so many parties and yummy food-dishes.
I think that the most important thing in terms of dieting at all times is to consider how certain foods can heal the chakras. Also I think that vegetarianism is best for overal health and keeping good body weight.
Bhakta David
http://chakra-centers-heal.blogspot.com
Hi Avani!
Happy Diwali to you! Wish you a wonderful year ahead.
Did you know you are on alltop? Pretty cool! Guy will do a lot of marketing for your blog now:)
I did not notice an alltop badge on your site?
Maya´s last blog post..Born Into Poverty : Blog Action Day 2008
http://lifehacks.alltop.com/ – I forgot to paste the link.
Maya´s last blog post..Born Into Poverty : Blog Action Day 2008
@Maya: Happy Diwali to you too. Yes, I got on alltop
I am waiting for this weekend to put on the alltop badge. I avoid playing with the code on weekdays to be on safe side.
I was drawn to read the post because of the title :-0)
Yes.. very practical and effective tips. Taking smaller portions and eating it slowing.. is what I generally do.
Shamelle -TheEnhanceLife´s last blog post..Overworked & Overwhelmed? Achieving Life Balance Amidst Chaos
Hi Avani,
Discovered your blog through the comments you posted on Thinkmaya.
Your post really resonates for me, because I’ve spent three months this year in India and had a very hard time with my food. It was easy to say No, but very hard for that No to be accepted. I don’t eat wheat, diary or sugar and family and friends usually got offended until I went into long explanations about my health reasons.
Thanks for the tips, for the next time around – they are definitely going to make a difference
Happy Diwali to you…..
Neeta
Neeta´s last blog post..Scribbles from my journal – 16
Hi Avani – I agree, quitting the clean plate club is a great idea, as is using smaller plates and portions. For some reason it seems like when we announce we’re on a diet, others want us to eat MORE. What’s that all about?
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..Who Taught You – Open Mic
@Shamelle: Am glad the title attracted you. Had to work a lot for this one. Rest of alternatives were becoming long lines.
@Neeta: I feel for you. Wheat, diary and sugar is kind staple diet in India. Must be really difficult for you. Although I think you might have already tried this, tell them doctor said no.
@Barbara:
hahaha yes, I remember those times when everyone wanted to feed me bcoz I was on a diet. Dunno why it is this way. If someone tells me that they are on diet, I will not allow them to have wrong foods even if they want to.
Great tips and thank you for sharing!
Adding to Number 4 – I’ve always used the trick to put my fork and knife (or spoon, depending on the situation) down between bites. This helps you gauge exactly how fast you’re eating. Putting the utensils down between bites forces you to eat slower.
gWallet´s last blog post..Hellgate: London – alive for now, free-to-play Mythos – still up in the air