One of the biggest challenges I hear from my clients is:

It’s not easy to eat healthy food when I’m out and about!

Social gatherings include food. The hand-to-mouth action seems to be a sort of comfort buffer that eases social situations. You may be surrounded by a whole bunch of “junk” food when you venture out into the world. Processed foods are everywhere, right?

There’s nothing wrong with eating processed foods every so often, but it’s helpful to know when you can get away with it and when you can’t.

I understand not wanting to stick out in a crowd and you too may be embarrassed to pass on something served or to ask your host or hostess for special arrangements. I so get it.

The next time you’re at a party try this suggestion.

Imagine this: you’re at a party and you’re intent on choosing healthy foods because you have a desire to feel and look your best. Feeling and looking good will at times require you to go easy on a specific food item. Everyone has one, maybe more than one.

I think you know what I mean, that food or combination could be a number of things. Your skin looks good as long as you avoid certain foods. Or maybe your digestion has a tizzie if you venture too far out of your comfort zone. It could be that too much sugar gives you that dreaded hangover you hate. Whatever it is, it’s likely to make an appearance at your next social gathering …

…and, everyone keeps throwing it in your face and encouraging you to join on in the food partay!

What do you do? If you avoid it, it can feel like all eyes are on you, the only one not partaking. “What’s the big deal?” they say. “It’s no big deal”.  It’s a lot of peer pressure, and it’s not easy to go against the grain, especially when your insights about what makes you feel less than stellar (foodwise) are new to you.

I wrote a blog post You Can Eat Whatever You Want  and talked about the fact that nobody will suffer your food choices (when they are out of integrity) but you.  I’m a foodie, and I wish I could eat anything my little heart desires, but I can’t. I mean I could, but I choose not to as I prefer to feel good. We all have our limits.

So, what can you do when you see those delicious foods that everyone is enjoying come by as if on a conveyor belt?

Ask yourself this question …

How do I want to Feel?

If you eat this food, how will it make YOU feel? Five minutes after you eat, what will you feel? Tomorrow morning, how will you feel? Even tomorrow afternoon?

Will eating that cake make you feel good AND will you enjoy it?

Take a moment, take a deep breath and tune into your body. There is incredible wisdom there!

If the answer is NO, then skip it for now, it’s not a forever thing, just for now.

Only you know the answer in the moment, and you may make a different choice depending on your circumstances.

So, personally, I know that if I’m feeling good, I can get away with a lot more, foodwise, than when I’m feeling off. If I know there’s a food that hasn’t set well with me, I’ll skip it. And sometimes, I don’t listen to my gut (so to speak), and I pay the price, but I always learn something, and so will you.

Try it out, ask the question How do I want to Feel? and know that if you decide to avoid something, that it’s not forever–it’s just for now. You can eat that cake another time, but save it for a time when you can truly enjoy it AND feel good.

When you focus on the FEELING, it will be easier to say yes or no, and you’ll be less likely to get swept up in peer pressure that causes suffering later on. Our brains want what they want in the moment, they don’t think of the consequences, so taking this 5 seconds to pause, will help you tune into your innate wisdom.

Your innate wisdom always feels good.

Let me know how it goes, I want to hear from you!

All the best,