Most women really enjoy going out with their girlfriends, especially when they plan on going out to eat. The cause for this is that, when women are together, they feel that they can eat anything and however much they feel like, removing the judgment they typically consider with male friends. In essence, they give one another consent to eat fatty foods that are higher in calories. Women on average eat as a minimum one hundred more calories and consume over 800 calories at a ladies night out.
When women dine out with men, however, they typically consume fewer calories. The more men there at the table, the more skimping goes on. They eat less and generally eat better. So whom you eat with really does have an impact on what and how much you eat.
This study began with researchers studying groups of students dining in large cafeterias at numerous universities. While this study focused on younger women, the outcome held true for older women as well. Women of every age tended to restrict calories when with men evidently because they wanted to make a good impression on their male dining companions or from utter self-consciousness. Eating less calories, subjects said, made them feel more feminine in a circle of men.
It all goes back to the stigma that women should be petite and delicate because that’s what men think is beautiful. So many women don’t feel proper about eating large quantities of fatty foods in front of men. Men, on the other hand, didn’t alter their food choices based on the sex of the group they were eating with.
So if women are on a diet or trying to keep an eye on their weight, eating out with girlfriends is not a good idea. While some women may not have a date every night, they can still go out and have fun. Women can go out with guy friends or go have lunch with colleagues.
Most likely there will be guys at work, so women can still eat out but eat more reasonably. The girls won’t pig out like they would with their girlfriends, and you can skimp on your meal, which will keep you trim, and, if you so desire, you can take the leftovers home.
On the other hand, though, there are some guidelines for when you do go out with the girls that will assist you in watching your calories. First, of all break away from the bread basket and only order the starter or dessert. This will cut back on a ton of calories. Also watch how much alcohol or pop you are consuming because this can really rack up the calories quickly and they could be better used somewhere else. Another tip: if you want to order something nourishing, be the first one to order and then you are setting the example and possibly influencing what the rest of the table orders.
Even though you’re eating out with girlfriends, it is possible to still calculate your calories. Even though dieting is not easy it is still possible to keep an eye on what you eat and go out with the girls. It’s much better than the choice of cutting out the girl’s night out completely, or eating with guys repeatedly. lame!
The author enjoys writing about politics, the workplace, and online colleges. Diane Johnson graduated with a bachelor degree in Political Science from the University of Utah.
