How To Keep a Social Life Without Compromising Your Diet

By Stepy Kamei

For all the good work we manage to accomplish when it comes to our diet, it can be pretty difficult to keep up with our good habits when we want to have a good time with our friends. Whether you're at a dinner party, a gathering with lots of treats and snacks, or any other social occasion, food is bound to be present -- and with it, the temptation to dive right back in to some of your old, negative eating habits. You know the habits, the ones that may contribute to weight gain, poor heart health, high blood pressure, sleeping issues, or many other health concerns.

For all these potential negative setbacks, this doesn't mean we should be limiting the amount of social activity we engage in, especially when you take into consideration how important creating and maintaining friendships is to a person's mental health and wellness. All that needs to be done is to take on a few pointers and healthy habits to keep in mind while out and about, to prevent some of your former bad habits from getting the better of you during what should be a time of rest and relaxation. 

Eat Before an Event

This may be one of the simplest, yet most important, health tips to keep in mind before attending any sort of social function or gathering. If you eat a healthy and nutritious meal right before heading off to see friends, you'll more than likely be much less tempted to indulge in large quantities of not-so-healthy snacks at the event. It can also help you a great deal to drink plenty of water, both before and during the event, in order to keep any hunger pangs and cravings you may have at bay. Dehydration can lead to a false sense of hunger, so prevent this from occuring before it becomes a problem!

Plan Ahead

If you're going out to a restaurant, take the time to view the menu online and figure out what you'll order before you even leave the house. This way, you're less likely to feel pressure to order something everyone else is ordering. Once you arrive at the restaurant, stick to your choice and don't tempt yourself by looking at the menu again. 

Get a Workout Buddy

If you have a friend who is also working on improving their health, consider making them a workout buddy. Having someone to go to the gym with, or go on runs with, is a great way to get and stay motivated -- all while catching up with a friend.