If you find that you overeat while drunk, you may regret more than just a hangover after an evening of drinking. You may be surprised to discover once you're sober that you went on an eating binge, and that can put a dent in your diet if you're counting calories. In order to avoid eating at all or eating too much or the wrong kinds of food while drunk, try any of the following tips:
1. Don't Get Drunk
It sounds simple, but the fact is, if you have a tendency to overeat while drunk, don't get drunk. You may have better control over your eating habits if you keep your drinking to a minimum, just enough to get buzzed without totally losing your inhibitions. Getting fully drunk can lead to a number of dangerous situations regardless, and it can damage your health if done frequently. The drinks alone will add up to a lot of empty calories.
2. Have a Designated 'Chaperon'
If you want to get drunk regardless, think of the designated driver system and have a friend act as your designated chaperon to keep you from eating. This is a smart system because the chaperon can make sure you don't do other things while drunk that can prove dangerous to your safety. However, if you're an aggressive drunk, this system may not work out well. If your chaperon keeps food from you or takes food away from you, you may start a fight.
3. Put away the Food Beforehand
If you're getting drunk in your own home, make sure all food is out of your reach before you start drinking. Some people eat while drunk simply because the food is on hand, and making sure no food is out on the counter may prevent you from eating. However, you may still retain enough of your cognitive abilities to go rummaging through the fridge and pantry for food, so this idea may not work.
4. Have a Small Amount of Healthy Snacks in Reach
If you think that you'll search out food while under the influence, stop yourself from rummaging around for unhealthy snacks by having healthy snacks within easy reach. Before you start drinking, wash some fruit and cut up some veggies and put them on a table near you. A small amount of crackers, nuts and bread may also provide healthier snacks that are gentle on your stomach during this time, depending on what you allow on your current diet.
5. Stay Active
It's probably safest not to get drunk alone regardless, so if you're going to drink a lot of alcohol, do it around friends you can trust and plan on some simple, safe activities to enjoy together. Even if you're a little tipsy, if you're able to concentrate on an activity (such as a board game, a video game, a simple game of truth or dare) you may not subconsciously reach for food.
