How to Socialize without the Splurge

As Labor Day comes and goes, some of you may be mourning the end of summer, while others may be looking forward to football season and the cool, crisp days of fall.

Regardless of which camp you fall in, September is a great time for all of us. September days are still long and warm, lending themselves to dining al fresco without the humidity of the summer. Shore trips may be less frequent, but also less crowded. And in September, our city starts to liven up again. This month alone there are eight different food festivals and street fairs. Check out visitphilly.com for a full line-up of events, festivals, and culinary delights.

Unfortunately, if we hit up the Cheesesteak & Food Festival, the South Philly Sausage Fest and, Oktoberfest at Brauhaus Schmitz our summer beach bod will quickly go bye-bye.

Did you know we eat almost half of our all our meals at what is called a ‘special event?’ Special events include all weekends, holidays, estimated vacation time, birthdays, and parties. If we’re living it up 50% of the time, this might explain why eating healthy Monday through Thursday isn’t helping us reach our weight loss goals. Try following these simple tips when planning your September social calendar.

• Don’t arrive hungry. This may sound a little counterintuitive, but try to eat a small snack before your next food truck festival or party. When you arrive at an event starving, it’s easy to overindulge in the first thing you see. Instead, have a handful of nuts or baby carrots an hour before you head out so you can make a good decision when it’s time to eat.
• Take a lap. Whether it’s a Labor Day barbecue or the much anticipated FEASTival, scan the scene before you decide what to eat. This will help you plan out your meal and only splurge on the foods that are really worth it.
• Sweat it out. There’s no doubt about it, it’s so much easier to overindulge on weekends, holidays, and special events. Try to compensate for the extra calories you eat by burning a few extra. Instead of your usual relaxing yoga class, try a more intense spin or boot camp class. Make your usual 2 mile walk a 3-miler. Chances are it won’t even out perfectly, but it’ll certainly help.

So, enjoy your dinners al fresco, late-season barbecues, and street festivals this month, but remember, if half of all our meals are at special events, not every meal can be a splurge.

FIND YOUR VYBE