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Get Healthy Tri-State: Stay meat free without being rude to your host
Be kind when passing on meat entrees at holiday get-togethers, and to ensure you have a meatless entree, bring your own.
Purchase this photoWhether you're a vegetarian or simply trying to eat lean, politeness often comes into play when it comes to maintaining a nutritious regime, especially around the holidays.
Here are some tips to help you stick to your plan without seeming rude to your friends or host.
Know that it's your choice, not someone else's. If you go to a party, do not expect the host to provide a dish that suits your nutrition plan. Bring your own dish to an informal party or buffet. If it is a more formal dinner, just politely choose from the selections available without making a point that you cannot eat everything.
If they are going to serve you, try to let them know beforehand to just skip you for any course that doesn't suit your diet plan, and make a point of how much you enjoy other items they are serving.
Eat beforehand: If you go somewhere and think there will not be much to eat there, grab a snack before going. That way, you can get by on a little less while you are there. If you go out to eat, do not say that you can't eat at a particular restaurant. Just find the most suitable item there, and never wince at someone else's plate. No one is obligated to accommodate you.
Never bring up the subject at dinner. If you are a vegetarian or on a strict diet, don't bring it up at dinner. Feel free to respond if someone asks you about it, but it may be more polite to refrain from the details while eating.
If someone brings up your weight loss in conversation, keep the discussion short. If a concerned relative comments that you are "wasting away," reassure the person that all is well. You could mention that your doctor is pleased with your weight loss, if appropriate.
Fake it: If you'd rather avoid the un-pleasantries of turning down Grandma's pumpkin bars, take just a tiny portion. If you have to, just take one bite and conceal the remainder on your plate.
Sources: eHow.com, and dietingtipsetc.com.
