When I go to a party or some social event, I eat way more than I want or need. I’m a people-person. I thrive on being with others. So if I go to some potluck something, I’ll load up my plate, just like everyone else, chatting away and enjoying the company. I don’t taste or enjoy my food much because it’s probably the wrong temperature or on the wrong dishes, I’m distracted by visiting with friends, or I just don’t like it. But the problem is that I will eat it all anyway! Later I’ll realize that I consumed a whole lot of calories that weren’t even enjoyable. Sometimes, though, the problem is that I know I’m not going to have cookies or hamburgers or chips when I get home, so I feel like I have to eat it then and there.

My decision based on this realization is two-fold: I will eat just enough to meet my physical needs in social settings, choosing only the healthiest foods available; and I will have meals that I love when I can really enjoy them.