Tips to Politely Refuse Extra Food Calories from Family & Friends

Are you like many who find it difficult to avoid "Food Pushers"?  You know who we're talking about, those family and friends of yours who always seem to tempt you with something mouth watering.  Have you ever considered that there just might be a polite way to refuse those needless calories?  We are here to help with a couple of ideas!

If you've come across the following statements see below for some tips to come away from them successfully:

A. "Come one, a tiny piece of pastry won't ruin your diet."
B. "It's a special occasion, it's ok to indulge a bit."
C. "You only live once!"
D. All of the above.

 

Most of us find it extremely hard to confront "food pushers" because we don't want to offend them, or come across as someone who is no fun - especially during special occasions.

Here's what you can do:

1. Prepare in advance for scenarios where you know "food pushers" will likely dwell.  Next, think about each situation's dynamic.  For example, if you're meeting up with a close friend you may feel more comfortable speaking to them about your new healthy habits. However, if you're meeting up with co-workers for happy hour you may need a clever response.  When that's the case try to use some humor which tends to diffuse the situation.  You can also politely decline and deflect to change the topic of conversation.  

2. When spending time with "food pushers" who offer you calorie-laden food and beverage as a sign of affection try to turn things around by letting them know what they can do for you instead.  For example, when offered a piece of chocolate cake, you could say, "I'm actually craving some fruit right now, do you have any fruit for me?"

3. When you need to be straightforward about saying no, make sure it's a positive statement.  So, say you're offered something decadent for dessert, you could respond with, "My favorite dessert right now is a nice cup of coffee or tea." 

How do you deal with the food pushers?

Reference:  Fooducate, Daily Tip - Novemer 25, 2015, 3 Ways to Politely Refuse Needless Calories from Friends and Family