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Planning for special events

Fat Chick, 02 September 2009, 5 comments
Categories: Food for a Fat Chick, Just a Fat Chick, Psychology of a Fat Chick
Tags: , , ,

We all have special days/events/activities in our lives that have the potential of throwing us completely off track.  Since I started this journey 97 days ago (wow, I calculated it because I wondered how long — can’t believe it’s been 97 days!) I’ve had birthday parties, BBQ’s, potlucks, meetings with food involved.  Some days I’ve been more successful some days less but here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help me succeed when these events face me.  (Plus the GAG challenge is asking for tips for BONUS points…if you know me, I ALWAYS got for extra credit — there’s a reason I would get 105% in classes in high school and college.)

  1. Plan your food day ahead of time.  If your event is in the afternoon/evening plan your morning/lunch food to be lower calorie but filling (lots of vegetables, etc.).  On days when I’m attending an event I’ll eat my breakfast a little later than usual so it craves my hunger longer (I DON’T skip breakfast — I’ll eat a 10 instead of 8:30 or whatever).
  2. Eat before you go.  I know that sounds silly, but eat some raw vegetables or a piece of fruit so you don’t arrive starving.  I made this mistake at my niece’s birthday party.  I knew there was going to be delicious food so I waited so I could eat there.  Unfortunately I gravitated towards the chips since they were out first and easy to grab because I was SO hungry.  Now I always make sure to eat something before I leave so I’m not starving when I get there.
  3. Bring your own water.  I almost always have a large water bottle LunchBagwith me.  If I’m going to be out I’ll usually bring a second one as a spare.  I purchased a really nice cooler bag that I sometimes use as my purse when I’m going to a picnic or where I’ll need food (put my keys, ID, and phone in the outside pocket, my water and food/snacks on the inside).  I love my bag so I don’t mind bringing it with me places.  If you’re stocked with water it will save you from going to the ice chest and being tempted by the soda and beer.  Most BBQs I go to keep the ice chest by the food…it will also keep you from going by the food table when all you want is something to drink.
  4. Which brings me to DRINK WATER.  Most BBQs have soda, wine, beer, etc.  Stick with water.  The food usually tastes so much better than the soda — use the calories you’d drink to have that scoop of potato salad or whatever.  :)
  5. Position yourself away from or with your back to the food table.  This is one of the easiest things to do and I recently watched a show that they did a scientific study that if you sit further from the food table and/or with your back to it you eat less.  Obviously if the food is on the same table you’re eating it’s easier to grab “just one more bite”.
  6. Survey your options before filling your plate.  Another simple way to cut down on calories (and another thing I learned from that show).  If the table is long — walk down it once before starting to fill your plate.  If you know what all the options are you can plan a little bit and determine what you want on your plate.
  7. Don’t be afraid to pass something by!  Seriously, that seems weird but it’s OK to NOT eat something.  I promised.
  8. It’s OK to NOT eat dessert.  If you’re full or you don’t want it, don’t eat it.  I don’t like cake but for years I’ve eaten cake at birthdays.  Not because I’ve wanted it but because I felt like you “had” to eat cake at birthdays.  It’s OK to pass on dessert.
  9. Bring your own food.  If you know the party is going to have a lot of sweets and high calorie foods.  Bring a salad to contribute.  Or bring a vegetable tray that you put out for everyone to enjoy.  Personally, I think it’s rude to bring your own little box lunch to a party, but that’s me.  I don’t think it’s rude to bring a dish to share.
  10. It’s also OK to have an oops.  Bottom line, a mistake one day on your new healthy eatings isn’t the end of the world.  Forgive yourself.  For me, I look at my calorie goals more on a weekly basis rather than on a daily basis.  I shoot for eating a certain number every day but sometimes I’ll go a little lower on one day to prepare for an event the next (I do NOT starve myself any day — I might go 100-200 max calories low on Friday to give myself a little extra on Saturday).

Bottom line, HAVE FUN!  The point of a gathering is to have fun and socialize.  The point isn’t to get stuffed or make yourself sick from your food intake.  Enjoy the day.  Focus on the people there.  Have discussions.  Share life with the people around you!  :)

For part 2 of the bonus challenge we’re supposed to give a healthy alternative-type recipe to take to a BBQ.  A recipe I took to the last BBQ I went to was super easy and healthy.  Got so many raves that I wasn’t even able to bring any home for my lunch.  :(   I did have to alter my original recipe since I’ve given up meat (it calls for a layer of bacon) and I altered it a bit myself for color.  (You’ll find a few alternatives out there but this is what I’ll be bringing to upcoming BBQs.)

7 Layer Salad

1 Head of Lettuce, chopped
1 cup Celery, Chopped
1 large Pepper (use a red, yellow or orange — calls for green but there’s a lot of green already)
1 small onion, sliced thin
1 pkg frozen peas (put them in frozen, trust me)
Olive Oil Mayo (enough to cover the salad with a 1/4 inchlayer)
Sugar sprinkled lightly over mayo (about 1-2 tbls)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Layer the salad in the order shown.  This looks amazing if you have a glass trifle bowl to layer it in.  I make it the night before, cover and refrigerate until the party.  It sounds a little weird (I was competely weirded out by the mayo as the dressing because I don’t like mayonaise but it really is good).

This entire salad (if you ate the entire thing which there’s no way I could do that) is about 887 calories.  It makes about 10 side servings so it’s a very decent side dish that’s yummy and healthy.  :)

The perfect addition to a BBQ or gathering that will ensure there are some vegetables there.

fatchick

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And The Chick's Think

5 Responses, Leave a Reply
  1. Sue
    02 September 2009, 1:08 PM

    Oh my dear sweet lord, gooey, mayo-y, bacon-y seven layer salad is SO responsible for at least one saddlebag. LOVE IT. Note: do not, and I repeat DO NOT substitute turkey bacon. Ever. It’s better just to skip the pig altogether. Turkey Bacon is just a cruel joke. (At least for us carnivores)

    Great tips – the are a lot like the ones I’ve compiled for tomorrow’s post! Must be something in the fat gene making us think alike!
    Sue´s last blog ..reason #124 why it sucks to have a male weight loss partner My ComLuv Profile

  2. Mia
    02 September 2009, 2:55 PM

    Excellent tips! I agree with everything you said here. Oh, and is the show you mentioned Food Detectives on Food Network, it was the first thing I thought of when I read tip #5 – if so, I love it :D
    Mia´s last blog ..a new month. My ComLuv Profile

  3. Erin
    02 September 2009, 3:31 PM

    i love all the tips! for me, holidays and outings with family and friends are always the hardest because I associate celebrations with food.I love your cooler bag.. super cute!
    Erin´s last blog ..Its Like Coming Home My ComLuv Profile

  4. Kate
    02 September 2009, 9:34 PM

    You said “Focus on the people there. Have discussions. Share life with the people around you! ” This so true – When did parties become about food and not people????? Looking forward to sharing Gag 2009 with you!
    Kate´s last blog ..Labor Day Game Plan and Recipe My ComLuv Profile

  5. Manda
    03 September 2009, 6:53 PM

    Just wanted to say hi. Looking forward to sharing the Team name Comet with you. Great tips, too. Is it ok if I print the tips off and keep with me for the tough get together meals?

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