When on a cut, how do you deal with eating at other people's?

[peterm28]

Obviously highly relevant over the holidays

What is your strategy for eating at other people's houses while on a cut?

I am thinking about how I can reduce my calories, and that seems to be a big source. I have much more control over what I buy and have at home.

[hardyboysare]

To start with the obvious you can just eat less. But alas I agree that we only live once therefore spending time with friends and family should build memories and not cause disruption by refusing to eat. So generally a few strategy may help in reduction your caloric intake or at least control it.

1. Serve your own food. Generally most meals I go to they just lay out the table and you help yourself. This makes it easy to stick with lower caloric foods and protein.

2. Eat less throughout the day before going. Decrease all your meals by 100-200 calories throughout the day to compensate and focus mainly on veg and protein (most of the time the average non-training household consumes less lean protein then a planned trained individual).

3. Avoid snacks or dessert whilst at their house. People are generally less concerned if you eat snacks instead of their prepared main meal so just don't have any.

4. Drive. You won't drink then (I hope not anyway). Just stick with unsweetened coffee/ tea (sweeteners of course are fine). Or drink calorie free fizz.

5. If you are close friends pre-plan the meal ahead. When I go to friends I will have boiled potatoes instead of chips or roast potatoes due to the caloric difference. Its no extra work and they are usually happy to supply some as they are easier then peeling more potatoes.

6. Takeaways these are a diet killers I am afraid as you have no idea how it was cooked so its best to guess and pick something likely to be lower in calories or just forget about it for the day (this will not help if eating takeaway is a regular thing).

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-take-away

These are just a few options that can work but at the end of the day its down to your self-control and self-planning in order to not ruin a weeks worth of deficit by eating excessively on one day.

[spradish]

Depends on the situation.

If it's a get together where we're supposed to take something, I always offer to take the vegetable tray or a salad. That way I know there will be something that is filling and not covered in butter, cheese, or sauce.

If there are foods served that I don't get to have during the rest of the year (holiday specialties), I'll have those and leave off the stuff I can have more often.

If it's food I've never had before, I just take it as an opportunity to try something new and mostly attempt portion control.

If its stuff I know isn't worth the calories (gluten free dairy free cake from a box) I skip it entirely.

As hardyboys wrote, most gatherings I go to have the food set out buffet style so it's easy to pick and choose and leave things off.

[peterm28]

@hardyboysare thanks for the thoughtful and informatve reply.

[284Shooter]

Portion size is important. Meat and veggies are usually always available. But 1 meal won’t hurt you, water weight might mess with your head a little.

But enjoy yourself and don’t let it turn into a habit. No reason to be stressed your not going to eat perfect for every meal for the rest of your life. There has to be a balance.

[Tommy W.]

Cutting at the Holidays.......
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[MrCarrot]

I think most of what Hardyboysare said is good advice.

Personally I would probably eat a little less earlier in the day, and also limit the amount of bad things that I'd eat at other people's houses. For example if they got out the Xmas biscuits I'd have one or two instead of half a dozen.

However this year I did go a little overboard at my parents when the cakes and candies came out. In fact I didn't track calories at all Xmas Day and Boxing Day because I honestly believe that whatever you eat (or don't eat) for one or two days of the year won't make any difference.

New Year's Eve I'll stick to my regular foods throughout the day, and then have a load a chitty high carb party food in the evening. Then after that it'll be back to normal business.

[ProYeo]

I'm pretty lame at parties... but I've been in prep so many times over holidays or for parties or whatever. I just travel with my normal meals. Nobody bugs me about it anymore because it's just what friends and family expect.

I do the same when I go out to eat with my husband on prep... we just check with the restaurant because usually they don't like outside food. But we explain the situation and that my husband will be buying food. I've never had a restaurant say no. If I have a little wiggle room, we'll go to restaurant I know makes their food fresh and explain exactly what I need and how it should be cooked. Again, not the most fun maybe, but it is what it is.

Luckily, this past Christmas, I was still all in on a bulk. Man, that was amazing!

[mgftp]

Moderation and self control, simple. Enjoy yourself but don't overdue it. If you are on a strict cut reduce the calories you went over at the social setting from other surrounding meals, skip a meal or two if needed. Don't overthink it, keeping it simple keeps it easy.