How To Stay On Track With Your Diet In Social Occasions

With birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and many other social occasions to attend it’s hard to avoid the indulgent food and drink that’s on offer. Many people find they ‘fall off the wagon’ because sticking to a diet in these situations is difficult when temptation is everywhere you turn!

Here are our top tips to help you stay on track with your healthy lifestyle without depriving yourself of a social life.

Check out the food offering before you arrive

If you’re heading to a restaurant, it’s a good idea to try and check the menu before you arrive and pick what you want to order in advance, preferably when you’ve just eaten. That way, when you order, you won’t need to look at the menu again and potentially be tempted when you’re really hungry.

Choose wisely

If you are going out for a meal, try to choose food that’s high in protein and fill up on plenty of fibre-rich vegetables. Steak and fish are great choices and try to steer clear of things that come in heavy, creamy sauces or are loaded with cheese. If possible, opt for healthier sides such as a colourful salad or vegetables instead of starchy carbs such as chips or garlic bread.

Have a small snack before

If you’re going to a meal or party, have a healthy snack beforehand. This will take the edge of your hunger and help you think clearly when choosing your meals or loading your plate with items from the buffet. When we’re really hungry we tend to over eat and pick high fat, high sugar items.

Drink plenty of water

Increasing your water intake anytime will certainly help with fat loss and improve your hydration but can be particularly important if you’re trying to stay on track in social situations. Drink lots of water before and after meals to help feel fuller and aid digestion. You can also drink water between alcoholic drinks too to lower your overall consumption and help avoid the dreaded hangover.

Steer clear of too much alcohol

Many social occasions will involve alcohol in some capacity so if you’re partial to a tipple or two, opt for clear spirits and low calorie mixers to minimise your calorie intake. Alcohol contains a lot of empty calories and just a few beers can easily make you exceed your recommended calorie intake. And that’s before you’ve hit the buffet!

Don’t let one bad day turn into a bad week

If you indulge in a blowout family meal or have one too many beers on a night out, don’t let that one day steer you off track. One unhealthy meal won’t make a difference to the bigger picture, just reset, refocus and chose healthier options next time.

So next time you have a social event, keep these tips in mind to help you in your quest for a healthier lifestyle. Ultimately, enjoy everything in moderation!