Throughout the year we have days like Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Birthdays where part of the festivities include getting together to eat. Eating is a social activity. The problem comes the day after, when we feel agitated with ourselves for overeating, especially if we’ve been doing well on a healthy lifestyle.

There is no reason to get agitated. Days geared to eating are never going away. Instead of getting agitated, try some tactics that might help you feel better about a day of hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments, brownies, cookies, and chips.

First, get up and move. Either try to get some folks to go for a walk between the grilled food and the desserts, or, if there is a game of volley ball or basketball, partake. Who cares if you’re terrible at the sport or only the kids are playing. Go play with the kids. You’ll feel better just for having moved around.

Second, don’t starve yourself until you get to the party, but do consider a low calorie breakfast since you are probably going to be consuming foods high in calories. Perhaps plain yogurt with fresh fruit or two poached eggs.

Third, try to trick your brain. When you get in the food line use a dessert plate. They are usually smaller and fill up faster. You may have to get up for seconds, but everything you take will look like more food. You’ll feel like you’ve eaten more than you have. Or, you might find that one small plate full of food was just what you needed to satisfy you.

Finally, think of one thing you anticipate will be at the picnic that you can do without. Are you happy drinking water over soda, beer, or another sugary beverage? Can you drink unsweetened iced tea? If there are five desserts, do you know you’ll be willing to limit yourself to only having three? You can pick any option you come up with. Don’t pick one that will make you suffer. If you drink soda every day, that’s probably not the option to give up. Or maybe it is in favor of dessert. Don’t make it a punishment. Make it a challenge.

Most of all enjoy the company that surrounds you, take advantage of a much needed day off, and laugh a lot. Laughing will work your core muscles and you won’t even have to think about it. Then, if late that night you’re feeling a little disappointed over your food choices, you can say: “Oh, well, I laughed a lot. At least I got some exercise in.”