So, you’ve been working hard, getting healthy, staying the course.
Finally, you’re feeling better than ever, physically and emotionally, and perhaps, others have noticed as well. But, summer is coming (or the holidays, or a vacation, or a celebratory event) and you know (because you’ve been through this before) that you can easily get derailed by (you choose):
- temptations
- peer pressure
- a rebellious streak
- not wanting to insult someone
A challenge, for sure. So, how to you avoid getting derailed?
There are strategies to stay on course.
After a while, you may develop your own, but these are tried and true. Some are practical for the situation, some may not be. Some are easy. Some aren’t.
What it comes down to is your own choices and priorities. Give them a try:
1. Don’t go hungry. If where you’re going or what you’re doing is a set period of time (a few hours), then simply eat a healthy, fulfilling meal before you leave. That way, you will be less likely to give in to temptations and you won’t have to wade through the available food choosing the lesser of the possible evils.
2. Bring your own healthy dish. If it’s appropriate to bring food, then bring a sharable sized dish that you think others may like as well. One of our favorites from our cookbook nourish is the Quick Quinoa Salad (p. 138). So, if there’s nothing else there that fits your way of eating, at least you have your own dish.
3. Simply be OK with the best choices available. It’s not worth it to beat yourself up for eating something that isn’t so healthy in a situation where you have little choice to do otherwise. In most situations, you can probably find something that isn’t so terrible, even if it isn’t something you’d normally eat. We can’t be perfect, but we can certainly stress ourselves out by trying, and the stress is often more unhealthy than the food you put in your mouth. Be OK with it, and eat it with a positive frame of mind.
4. Don’t hang out by the bar or buffet. Power of suggestion is sometimes very strong. If you’re standing right there, where you may find yourself having cravings and temptations for foods or drinks you know won’t serve you, then get away from there! Don’t torture yourself or try to test your willpower. It’s not about that–it’s about making the best choices and doing it in a gentle and supportive way.
5. You don’t have to explain yourself. Whenever we are doing something outside the “norm,” we often feel that we need to explain why we are making the choices we make. We feel judged and uncomfortable and often try to find a way to not seem so extreme/odd/righteous. The fact is, people will judge you anyway, as long as you’re different in some way. You can’t change that. But you can change your frame of mind. When offered something that you don’t want, simply say, “no, thank you,” and leave it at that. Most people are perfectly fine with that. Of course, you will have a select few that will ask “why?” That’s where it often gets tricky because you don’t want to insult anyone and you don’t want to seem judgmental of their food. And, you don’t necessarily want to go into the details of the last 3,6, 9, 12 months that you’ve been working hard to get healthy. Perhaps you say, “Oh, I’d love to, believe me, it looks delicious, but no thanks.” That should be enough (we hope!)
Changing your lifestyle to be healthier is changing your point of view of what is “normal.” The average American may think that food made from a package or box or can is normal. It may be usual, but it definitely is not normal. Imagine what your pre-industrial ancestors would think of such food-like substances. They wouldn’t even recognize these things as food. That’s not normal. Keeping this in mind can also help you make the right choices under the challenging circumstances of social situations.
One last strategy: Make your own party! Challenge your friends and family to bring only real, whole foods. If you aren’t completely clear on what that means, perhaps you want to join our Real Eats Challenge or just read about what it means to “eat real.” Check it out here. Bon Appetit!
