I hope the dinner went well.

Often, I will bring something tasty with me, ostensibly to *augment* the meal, and then simply eat that.

I'd have brought a tossed salad and enough mixed berries to share with a tub of Cool Whip. (And just eaten the berries, because Cool Whip is yuck, but lots of people love it!)

I'm having the same kind of day except unfortunately it's not a house party.

I have to go to a big birthday party at a restaurant, it's been organized like a wedding dinner or such where everyone gets the same food and there are no substitutions allowed.

If I just don't eat it the person's family will have to pay for my meal anyway, so I feel trapped into eating a reasonable amount to be polite.

I called the restaurant to check on "allergies" and found out the menu they chose is all pasta, bread, desserts, caesar salad, etc. All things which I'm supposed to stay away from!

There are so many times when I go to people's homes for dinner and there is never a healthy option in sight! Even when I was at my heaviest I wouldn't dream of having a dinner party without offering lots of veggies and healthy sides.

On the other hand I love Caeasar Salad and manage to include it into our menu once in a while. Here's my healthy version of the dressing:

- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 anchovy
- salt/pepper
- 2 tbsp evoo
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp low-fat mayonnaise
- 1 tsp finely grated parmesan cheese

1. In a mortar and pestle grind the salt, pepper, garlic, and anchovy until it's a smooth paste.
2. Add the oil, vinegar, and mayonnaise and mix well.

Add this to roughly chopped romaine lettuce. With a vegetable peeler I add peelings of parmesan cheese but I can pick those and the croutons out of my own salad.

Success!!! I had some dinner before I went to my sisters so I wouldn't be hungry and tempted when I got there. Then I asked her if she'd mind holding out some salad without any dressing on it which I ate for dinner while the others indulged in the higher fat options.

When everyone else had wine I had sparkling water in a wine glass - made it feel fancy.

For dessert I passed on the cake and had a bowl of fresh strawberries instead.

I didn't feel out of place and it felt GREAT to not overeat!