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(#6) Eating Strategies for A Night on the Town

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December 12, 2009
	Dr. Gary Huber : Head Medical Ego

Well with only two weeks left before Christmas I know things are heating up and the parties are in full gear.  So how to go to the office party, the family gathering, the neighborhood party and your aunt Lola’s house with that annoying yappy dog she has, without blowing it all?  Yes there should be some parties on your schedule that are planned as no holds barred, gastronomical celebrations and you should go crazy and have your fun. That’s why we are doing all this excellent weekday nutrition and exercise.  On those occasions you should have your fun with ZERO guilt and enjoy the perks that go with living a healthy lifestyle.  You have earned it. 

But . . . there will also be other outings, such as the three party weekend where you have multiple obligations or perhaps even a mid week dinner to attend where you just know you can’t overdo it too often or your plan my backfire. So here are some approaches to consider depending on the situation.

The “No Way Hosea” dinner
This is the event that comes up and you have to attend but there is no way you can afford to fall off of your plan. This may even be a dinner where you aren’t looking forward to the menu, the restaurant or perhaps even the people that will be attending and you decide that the calories just aren’t worth it. A very successful strategy is to eat before you eat. 

You heard me. Eat a full healthy and nutritious dinner at home just before leaving to go to dinner. When you get there you can be social and fulfill your obligation but when dinner is ordered or the menu items get offered you won’t be tempted and you can order something light.

Nibble on something so you blend into the celebration but you are in control of the items and amount. Focus on the protein and vegetable items and avoid the heavy carb items.  The killers are bread, rice, potato and pasta. Most restaurants these days have websites and you can look at their menu before you arrive so that you can walk in with a game plan and the confidence to know that you have control of the situation. Planning ahead makes all the difference.

The “Little Something” outing
This is where you are going out and you plan to allow yourself the treats that you have been working toward all week. It’s a party and you know there will be all kinds of “goodies” there and you plan on having a little something but you don’t want it turning into a free for all that results in a two pound water weight gain the following morning. 

Seek and destroy the special pleasure you enjoy like those tea cookies, or maybe it’s the rum balls, sugar coated nuts, pecan pie, or a hot toddy with Baileys or other sugary liquors. The key is to avoid the borderline snacks that are there. 

Those store bought sugar cookies with the plastic icing, the lame cheese log with the nothing special crackers, the stale looking cake from some generic bakery. These are not the stars of the evening, they are just “me too” easy to munch finger foods and are not worth the chewing.

You know what I’m talking about. You get cornered by some relative or co-worker who is telling you about how cute their cat is and how the other day Mr. Boots jumped right up on the piano and the notes he stepped on sounded just like Jingle Bells…and just when you think your head is going to explode you eye the cheese knife on the counter. You’re trying to decide whether to use it to slit his throat or your own you opt for choice number three which is just eat anything within arms reach to occupy this 20 minutes of your life which you will never get back. 

Been there? So find the golden nuggets and enjoy, limit your pleasure to the top shelf, creme-da-la-creme offerings. Avoid the mindless chewing of sub-par run of the mill junk. When in doubt, stick with the high protein foods and avoid the starchy carbs. 

The “Alcohol” issue
Yes there is sugar and carbs in alcohol. A standard 4 to 6 ounce wine pour will result in roughly 135 calories and 3 grams of sugar. This varies of course and white wine will generally have more sugar than red wine. This can add up as the night progresses. 

Beer runs a much larger spectrum ranging from light to stouts, ales and lagers. The carbohydrate count is what you are concerned with here as these carbs are quickly converted to sugar. A Miller Lite has only 3.2 grams of carb, Bud Light has twice that at 6.6 grams. But then you can get into Sierra Nevada Stout with 19.4 grams and Blue Moon with 13.7 grams, and that can really add up. 

Vodka is a bit safer as it typically has little to no carbs. But what about those fancy liqueurs such as Baileys and Frangelico? Baileys has 5.6 grams of carb per 1 ounce shot and Frangelico a whopping 12.3 grams.  That translates into 12 and 26 minutes of jogging respectively to burn the calories of just one shot. 

If this is your treat of choice then go for it and Merry Christmas to you. Just be sure to stick to your plan and hit the streets tomorrow for a nice jog to clear your head and clear those calories. While your jogging you can ponder whether it was really a good move to tell everyone that embarrassing story about getting through airport security coming home from Mexico.

Lastly, just remember our mission, “Eat cookies and lose weight.”  The holidays are to be enjoyed. Don’t get so caught up with “rules” that you lose your way. Enjoy the treats, and most importantly enjoy your friends and family. Celebrate your religious beliefs over a nice cup of grog. Have your fun and be in the moment.  BUT . . . get your butt back in the gym Monday morning.

Peace & Joy!

Note: In case you missed one, all of Dr. Huber’s posts for the Holiday Challenge are featured in the Holiday Challenge Section of our website.