Avoiding slip-ups in social situations

Oh, the call of the dessert buffet. Or maybe it’s not even the dessert buffet. Maybe it’s office parties, birthday parties, dinner with friends, or a night at the movies. Social situations are tough when you’re eating a Paleo diet. Especially when you’re doing a Whole30 reset. It’s easy to feel like you’re missing out big time. After all, our culture (actually, many cultures) are built on sharing food together. When you get together with friends, you want to be able to mindlessly indulge and enjoy the company, not think about what you’re missing out on. You don’t want to shield questions about why you’re not eating the chips and salsa, or why you don’t want any bread and butter. Face it, it’s pretty socially acceptable to pass on dessert–people usually can understand that. But chips? Bread? Pasta? It’s a confusing matter!

Superman’s* health issues give him a consistent excuse as to why he can’t eat certain things, but that doesn’t make it easier for him. Many people don’t understand how someone can be “allergic” to such an abundance of foods. Of all the things he misses about eating “normal” foods, it’s the social aspect of just sitting and enjoying meals with friends and family that he misses the most. But when you don’t necessarily have a food allergy forcing you to eat a Paleo diet, how do you stick up for yourself while not putting up walls between you and the people around you?

*My amazing husband

Here are a few things that might help you when you find yourself in a social situation that could potentially derail your Whole30:

1. Don’t apologize or feel guilty for wanting to better your health. Yeah, easier said than done. But you need to remember that you have one body. You get one chance with it. And yes, you may have to offend a few people by {politely} passing on their homemade bread or lasagna, but ultimately, it’s you that has to live with yourself. Eventually, your success will inspire others and you will be oh, so much happier with yourself knowing you’ve stuck to something and are seeing the results.

2. Eat before you go. Going to a hybrid event production party or restaurant, or even a friend’s house starving is a recipe for failure. Fill yourself up before you go so you can still enjoy the social aspect, while not obsessing about the cream puff over on the table.

3. Write out a canned answer (and memorize it) to have on hand. Pressure is no fun. And when your sweet friend is begging you to have “just one bite” of her homemade deliciousness, or that “to die for” food, you need to have an answer ready. Plan how you will reply if someone says, “Why can’t you just have one piece of bread?” or “You don’t eat any grains? How do you get your carbs?” or “I’d rather die than not eat sugar!” Think about why you’re doing this. And again, don’t feel guilty for wanting to better your health!

4. Don’t think of the Whole30 as “something to get through” but rather, “something to change my life.” I know, I know, it sounds dramatic. Don’t look at the foods you’re not eating and think, “OK, I’m going to resist the temptation.” Instead, keep reminding yourself about what you are filling your body with…foods that are as close to their original state as possible. And yes, see these foods as fuel, but also see them as something to be enjoyed. Meats, fish, eggs, vegetables and fruits and healthy fats don’t have to be boring! Experiment, have fun, try new recipes and see it as a challenge to try tasty recipes that you may not have tried before.

5. Don’t freak if you’re not perfect (which you aren’t–neither am I). If you fall off the “wagon” (if you’re on one…see THIS post for why I don’t consider myself on one anymore…), weigh how much of a slip it was and decide whether you need to start your reset over. Don’t beat yourself up or throw in the towel. Don’t tell yourself, “well, I already ate that doughnut, I’ll just go ahead and indulge the rest of the day.” Just pick up your britches and move on.

I hope these ideas will help you when you’re out and about, enjoying life. This challenge isn’t about depriving yourself, it’s about learning new habits and listening to your body telling you just what keeps it moving most efficiently.