If you’re on a diet, you might think that you have to say goodbye to your party lifestyle. However, that’s not necessarily the case! There are plenty of ways to enjoy a night out while still staying on track with your diet.
Here are 5 tips to help you party without sabotaging your diet:
- Grab a pre-party meal
Dinner shouldn’t be your first priority when heading out for the night. Instead, try to have a healthy meal a few hours before heading out. It’s better to eat light because it will reduce your hunger pangs and help you avoid unhealthy snacks and temptations. For example, you can have fish or lean meat with vegetables or salad. Alternatively, you can try a protein shake. Then, you won’t end up eating everything that’s not allowed on your diet!
- Choose alcohol carefully
Sure, it’s ok to enjoy a drink or two at the bar while waiting for all of your friends to arrive. However, you need to make sure you choose wisely. Stick with booze that’s free of calories and sugar, such as vodka, gin, tequila or rum. If you feel like a mixed drink, choose brands that use diet soda, juice or low alcohol beer in their recipes. Alternatively, you can ask for flavour additions like lime or lemon to your beer.
- Check for healthier bar snacks
Check the bar snack menu instead of loading up on junk food, which will only sabotage your efforts. Many bars and restaurants now offer healthy alternatives such as veggie chips, wings, quesadillas and skewers. In addition, eating a snack before you go out will help you avoid the bar snacks that are loaded with fat and sugar.
- Pick a healthy dinner option
If you end up going to a restaurant while you’re out, choose a healthy restaurant option. You don’t need to deprive yourself of everything. For example, you can choose lean meat with vegetables or rice. If you want to enjoy a dessert, reserve some space for it. You can also save room for it by drinking water before finishing your meal.
- Stay active during the week
Even if you can’t stick to your regular exercise routine, make sure you at least try to be as active as you can during the week. Go for morning jogs before work or after. Go for a hike or a bike ride with your friends on the weekend. You can also enjoy an afternoon walk with your dog. All of these will help you burn extra calories and shed those nasty fat layers.
Enjoying time with friends and family is a great reason to celebrate. But, with a bit of planning, you can stick to your diet while enjoying all of the fun and festivities. If you need some inspiration or help with your diet, check out our blogs for diet nutrition tips!