Speak Up: How Do You Avoid Overeating at Barbecues?

Get the best of POPSUGAR
Fitness — in your inbox!

Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional):

Food Yoga Working Out Running

Speak Up: How Do You Avoid Overeating at Barbecues?

July 23, 2009

Hot dogs and hamburgers are comfort foods of Summer, and I'm sure by now you've eaten your fair share at all the barbecues you've been frequenting. Aside from those staples, grilled corn smothered in butter, potato salad, chips and dip, and cold beer are also favorites. With all this irresistible food, I'm wondering, what are some tips you can suggest to fellow FitSugar readers to help avoid overeating at the next BBQ?

Source: Getty

22 Comments

3 years 36 weeks

NO-ONE WILL LOSE WEIGHT UNLESS THEY WANT TO! Stop dieting; keep track of everything that you eat each day. Secret information will help you to get the body that you want. Each day keep your body properly hydrated with plain water and definitely limit your sodium intake. Keep mindless grazing to a minimum. Remember; eat to live, don’t live to eat! A daily regimen is needed by everyone and that regimen includes proper nourishment. Diets and diet aids do not help anyone! The only way to successfully lose weight and get the body that you deserve is by using secret information. This information is in the book Lose Weight Using Four Easy Steps which can be ordered through the website www.bbotw.com Everyone who has gotten a copy of these secrets has lost weight and become healthier.

ElectroPopTart 3 years 42 weeks

I avoid it be stuffing my face to the point of FULL ON satisfaction! MUahahahah!

Spectra 3 years 42 weeks

I usually bring something healthy to our barbecues, like portabello mushrooms to grill or a tray of veggies and dip. I try to eat mostly healthy stuff...we always have a melon or fruit and veggies, so I eat that stuff and drink water for the most part. Usually, I don't rely on the BBQ food to be my actual meal because it's usually really rich and fattening, so I eat my real lunch or dinner before I go or after I get back.

Modus Vivendi 3 years 42 weeks

I always bring veggies and hummus so I can fill up my plate and mindlessly snack without doing damage. It's polite to bring something anyways, and this way I know there will be a healthy option.

bailaoragaditana 3 years 42 weeks

By being vegetarian! It's still a pretty uncommon thing in my family's social circles, so I'm usually limited to some fruit juice or soda, and salad, maybe potato salad (but I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise-y things, so that's usually out)... If I'm lucky there will be a veggie tray with some dips. So I actually end up hungry rather than disgustingly full!

iheartkerning 3 years 42 weeks

barbecues are my excuse to let loose a little. I'll usually choose something reasonably healthy for the main dish like a chicken or turkey brat (not a huge red meat fan anyhow), and snack on veggies and fruits, but I won't hold back from having a few chips (normally something I'll never consume) and a couple beers. just gotta put in an extra hour on the bike the next day and the extra calories I consumed become a non-issue. I'm lucky though, desserts are not my thing and I'm not drawn to pasta/potato/egg salads. for me the grab-able snacks like chips and chex mix are most tempting, corn chips moreso than potato chips.

insanitypepper 3 years 42 weeks

I don't avoid overeating at barbecues.

Run2bfree067 3 years 42 weeks

water all the way. I bring my own refillable bottle places, and just refill when I need to. Its nice because im never hungry at a bbq (i eat only chicken and fish) but its tempting to grab a bite of someone's famous ' triple chocolate summer cookies/brownies' so having something in my hand is a great way to distract myself. Otherwise i will keep my landyard with keys on it rotating between my hands, or I will talk to somebody away from the buffet line!

tlsgirl 3 years 42 weeks

I don't. I just eat what I want. It's usually not so bad.

algrayp 3 years 42 weeks

I'm with telane - water does the trick for me. It helps me avoid calorie-heavy options like soda and beer, and I always have a few sips after eating,because it helps me figure out if I'm hungry for seconds or if I just like the idea of more food. Usually I find that taking those extra seconds to actually listen to my body (and hydrate!) saves me a trip back to the grill.

GlowingMoon 3 years 42 weeks

I'm with Mamasitama. :) I just listen to my body.

mamasitamalita 3 years 42 weeks

I stop eating when I'm full?

DivaDivine 3 years 42 weeks

I eat in a defined order: veggies, fruits, lean protein, carbs and if I'm not stuffed at that point--dessert.

Yogaforlife 3 years 42 weeks

All of my friends are very health conscious and it's great because we all bring healthy dishes to barbeques. There's always tons of vegetarian options, fresh fruits and veggies, and high quality cheese (our favorites when eaten in small amounts). We also stock tons of healthy dips such as homemade salsa and hummus. Healthy friends are a great motivation to stay committed to your health plan! The family barbeque is another story! I tend to eat beforehand because they pretty much only serve white breads, hamburgers, hot dogs, and potato salad. I usually offer to take the salad so that I know there will be something healthy for me to eat.

telane 3 years 42 weeks

I stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and that helps me keep my hunger in check. I also let myself have 1-2 bites of something that is not so good for me, and fill the rest of my plate with things that are nutritious. I agree with darc5204, most of the barbecues I attend have pretty healthy fare.

Dana18 3 years 42 weeks

The food that is usually at a barbecues is very filling so , it is hard to over it.

darc5204 3 years 42 weeks

If the barbecue is only red meat, beer, and potato salad, I skip it or maybe eat beforehand. Most of the barbecues I go to have chicken, veggies, fruit, etc. that aren't really that bad. I don't miss the meat or mayo, but I do allow myself to sample the desserts.

TidalWave 3 years 42 weeks

I always eat more when i'm alone than in a group. I'm just way more conscious about how much I'm eating around people.

a million suns 3 years 42 weeks

I let myself have a hamburger and a few chips so I don't feel deprived and fill up the rest of my plate with fruit and vegetables. I find watermelon in particular pretty satisfying because it's so refreshing on a hot day. I also agree with hottpink--arriving at a BBQ starving is asking for trouble! A good way to avoid being really hungry before meals is to carry something with protein in your purse, a pack of peanuts for example.

kclulu 3 years 42 weeks

I bring something that is healthy and I know I like and try to fill up more on that and then either eat the other stuff in moderation thats not so good or bring substitutes like turkey dogs or slaw with a vinegar dressing as opposed to mayo etc. I actually find it a lot easier to eat healthy at a BBQ then a lot of other places. My friends are also tolerant of my eating habits so they dont roll their eyes or make fun of me as much anymore when I bring my healthy food:)

Francoisehardly 3 years 42 weeks

I don't eat meat and with my family, if it's going to a relative's house or over to a local park because relatives from the city are visiting, the issue is more likely to be "will there be anything to eat at all?". On one occasion, it's a good thing I took some of my own food because they had no vegetables there at all. It's better when I'm home and I can have my own stuff to grill.