Going on a trip-diet danger!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2003
Going on a trip-diet danger!
6
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 11:15am
Hi,

Tommorrow we are leaving to drive up to Indiana and Michigan (from Missouri) to visit family and introduce everyone to our new baby (he's 3 months now). I'm so unsure of how to handle the calorie-counting. Being on the road and eating out I can handle, but we're going to be eating some meals with my husband's family. Several issues, first of all, I'm sure they're going to make some kind of red meat, which I will not eat and then I have to try not to offend anyone (I haven't had red meat since middle school, except for one bite of prime rib I took purely to shock my husband. It was pretty gross, not selling me on changing my ways). That's just a gripe. Here's my real question:

How do you all handle eating home-prepared food that someone else cooked and staying on plan? Especially when they are people you don't know very well and don't want to inform that you are dieting? I've only met most of my husband's family once or twice (and we've been together 8 years, married 4, we don't visit that side of the family much), and I'm just not into opening up a dialogue about my weight problem with them. Any ideas? My only inclination is to just eat as little as possible and stow away a few nutrition bars to eat later.

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Erin

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics
Mom
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 11:37am
Hi Erin,

I had the same problem when visiting my husband's aunt's house recently. Fortunately, I was only there for one meal so it wasn't too bad. Like you, I didn't want to let them know that I was dieting. I just ate what I could, and ate smaller portions. I tried to go for the veggies, but unfortunately they didn't have too many. I guess I'm probably not much help, but I do think that your idea of eating as little as possible (so not offend) and keeping nutrition bars for later is a good idea. I don't know if it's possible to keep some cut up veggies handy also, but that might help, too. Good luck and I hope you have a good time despite your concerns about eating.

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 11:57am
Well one...YOU ARE NOT ON A DIET. You have decided to change your heating HABITS to healthy ones. SO there is nothing wrong with letting them know when you get there that you will be adding somethings to what they are preparing. I would go to the store and get some veggies to run around with. No harm and no foul. You aren't insulting them at all and you are still maintaining your new habit/lifestyle.

One thing I have learned is just be honest when it comes to the redmeat. I can't seem to break it down anymore. When I go to family visits, I explain that my body isn't breaking down the red meat as it should and then I go and get my own chicken and offer to fix it. Most of the time they have been great to include it in a bar b que or even allow me in their kitchen. One of my aunts changed what she was going to make because of it.



iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2003
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 1:57am
Just try to eat as healthy as you can and eat smaller portions. You could also offer to help cook and do some healthy food like a big salad etc. good luck and have fun
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 12:02pm
Well, take a look at the table and see what they've prepared first of all. You can get a pretty good idea of calorie content by eyeballing the choices. And try to lean more to fruits and veggies, and if you don't want to eat meat then don't. That's what I'd do. On the road we like to pick up things at grocery stores, make a picnic of it...and you already know how to make the best choices there! Have fun on your trip.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2003
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 1:04pm
I wouldn't worry about offending anyone over not eating whatever unhealthy choices they've made. I eat what's legal on my plan, and if anyone doesn't like that, well, screw them!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2004
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 6:54pm
I don't understand the problem. You don't have to eat everything they serve. You can choose what to eat, and what to pass on. It's called free will, right?