May Get-Together
Posted by Anna
I was a bit more organised for today’s get-together and brought my own cottage cheese. I’d decided not to arrive feeling hungry and risk “grazing”, so had my main meal at lunchtime before leaving — this proved a good tactic. The hosts supplied food which was served at 6pm and I was pleased to discover their cheese and tomato pizza was only 342 cals per 1/3 serving. That together with the cottage cheese proved not to be very filling, so by 10pm this evening, I was peckish again. I’ve just bought some half-fat Red Leicester and thought I’d try it at 80 cals per 30g — it tasted good and hit the spot! :-)
| Breakfast | Porridge + skimmed milk | 174 |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch | Low-fat chicken biriyani | 382 |
| Dinner | 2 slices pizza | 342 |
| Cottage cheese and chives | 105 | |
| Snack | 40g slice of half-fat cheese | 106 |
| Drinks | 1 cup of tea | 10 |
| Light Oasis + 0 cal bevs | 16 | |
| Total Calories | 1,135 | |
Paola said,
1 June 2008 at 12:57 am
You did good.
I’m amazed how long it’s taken me to cope with such events, food-wise. I was a little anxious about whether I’d cope with unlimited food (I mis-guessed a BBQ) beforehand.
I wondered whether to bring a (calorie-counted) sandwich but figured a) they might be offended and b) I should try to wing it. I’m glad I did although I’m not gonna have quiche again anytime soon!
Anna said,
1 June 2008 at 7:59 am
It was because of your useful suggestion before that I thought to take my own cottage cheese — and to be honest it didn’t occur to me that they might have a reaction to me bringing it. When I arrived I asked to put it in the fridge and explained that being on the diet, I wanted to ensure there was food I knew I could eat. and Sue was fine with it. If anyone at any future event I go to does get miffed at me bringing my own bits, my feeling is that really that’s their problem — my health will always come before other people’s sensitivities.
Like you, I was concerned about the ‘unlimited food’ issue — especially after the do at my mum’s on Thursday when I ended up eating some tortilla chips and cashew nuts — hence scoffing a big lunch just before I left and arriving with a full tum!
Paola said,
1 June 2008 at 10:43 am
I didn’t explain myself well. I bought a snack too – my lovely mandarin – but I also considered taking my dinner too, in the form of a sandwich, for example, and not have to deal with ANY of the food provided.
However, I’d already mailed Sue in advance to say I was on a calorie-counting diet and asked her to keep the packages of any veg food so I could note the info. That she made coleslaw with low-cal mayo is very thoughtful of her.
By the way, how did you feel sitting next to the biscuits for hours? I was more tempted with the crisps but, besides the palava of having to photograph and document, they’re not really the kind of thing to eat just one of.
Anna said,
1 June 2008 at 11:36 am
Oh, yes I can see what you mean if you took all your own food and didn’t eat anything provided. Your thoughtfulness in emailing Sue ahead of the event was a good one. I didn’t realise Sue had kindly made the coleslaw with low-cal mayo or else I’d have had some!
The biscuits didn’t bother me. At work, pretty much daily we have biscuits and cookies and other sweet “goodies” (krispy kreme donuts, danish pastries) in the office for everyone to tuck into, so I’m used to simply ignoring it.
Do you find savories harder to ignore than sweet things?
Sylvia said,
1 June 2008 at 12:04 pm
I know that wasn’t aimed at me but I definitely find savories much much harder to ignore. I’d have dived into that quiche, I think.
Anna said,
1 June 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’m the opposite. When going for a meal, I can’t eat a lot at one sitting, so I routinely pass up a starter to leave room for a dessert. Well, I did in a previous life, at any rate…!
Paola said,
1 June 2008 at 3:35 pm
Given a choice of a bag of crisps over chocolate, I’d chose the crisps. Yum.
When I buy biscuits and cakes for Frank, I go for the double-chocolate kind (e.g., chocolate ice cream with chocolate brownie bits) when available, as I find them too much and barely registering in the temptation department.