How to Eat Right AND Maintain a Social Life :

You've made a choice to eat good foods, but then every Friday you meet friends for Pizza and Beer. What do you do?

Or maybe your mother, husband, wife, or whomever - loves to bring you home your favorite calorific treats - how do you stay the course without offending someone?

Here are 7 points to ponder on.

1. Consider how you can increase support from family, friends, and coworkers
   With those you see frequently, ask directly for their help in concrete ways. "”Mom, please don’t bring me any more sweets".”
2. Think about what is really important to you in a particular social situation
   How can you both enjoy the relationship and better health? Join your co-workers at the pizza place but have a salad or suggest a different type of restaurant.
3. Spouses and partners may feel that your exercise takes away from your time with them
   Suggest that you take a walk together when you get home and then relax on the couch.
4. When visiting family or friends bring a dish to share.
   That way you will be making a thoughtful gesture while also ensuring that you will have at least one healthy food choice.
5. If drinking alcohol, set a limit ahead of time and then switch to non-alcoholic beverages.
6. When faced with a mouth-watering buffet, get a single plate of what you really want.
   After enjoying this, focus on the social aspects of the event.
7. Brainstorm ways to transform your present social patterns into patterns that are more supportive to your health.
   Find ways to move the social focus away from eating and get everyone more active: go out dancing, meet for a game night, start a walking group.

Many thanks to Haven Logan, who outlines these points in her short PDF Living a Healthy Life . Used with permission.

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