I recently had dear friends come in for a weekend visit. We settled into the couch upon their late Friday night arrival with a glass of wine and a dish of nuts in front of us.  They both told me they were trying to lose weight and that they had health issues stemming from their weight.  So why were we blithely scarfing up handfuls of high-calorie nuts? 

The next day started with a heavy brunch, celebratory lunch and dinner complete with high calorie desserts.  On the plus side, we walked quite a bit at a local tourist attraction.  (For the record I resented being dragged to see Plymouth Rock.)

I was eating as poorly as my guests.  Heck, I’m the one who did Belgian waffles, mimosas and bacon for brunch that day.  I was as far from my fitness roots as possible, I was an fat enabler! 

Halfway through our visit I realized my mindset is to entertain like my Mom.  A 1970s Family Circle version of Food Is Love.  Well, the cycle stops now. 

To be a hostess in this millennium here’s some tips to keep you and your houseguests on a healthy track.

1. Ask ahead of time if your houseguest has any special dietary needs or favorite foods. If you love someone enough to let them stay in your house, it is not rude to ask if they’re watching their weight!  
2. Challenge yourself to make healthy and delicious meals.  Instead of a heavy meal straight out of a Betty Crocker cook book try something lighter.  Steamed veggies and broiled fish make a great meal, are healthy and balanced and will leave everyone fresh and energetic for more visiting time.
3. Plan exercise time.  This can be as simple as going to an attraction with a lot of walking built in or you could schedule an actual workout session at a nearby gym or yoga studio.  Maybe grab some bikes and tour the local countryside instead of driving to a mall. 
4. Moderate the alcohol and desserts.  For my family nothing says I love you like chocolate.  But hey, I could just go give the person a hug and say I love you too.  When you have house guests you should continue with whatever your normal routine is for small treats and alcohol.  There is no need to heap on glasses of booze and layers of cake because it’s a “special occasion.”  Spending time with your loved ones is the special part. 
5. Plan downtime.  Make sure there is time everyday for people to relax and decompress from all the activity.  People might want to read, check emails, walk around the block, take a nap, whatever.  Having downtime during a busy visit ensures people stay balanced and keep making healthy choices.  

Halfway through the visit I stopped the madness.  We had steamed veggies and baked chicken for dinner and on our last day I treated them to a session at my Pilates studio.  A new adventure for one of my guests and they loved it.  

I happily brought them to their gate with lots of hugs and sent them on their way. While I miss them terribly and can’t wait for their next visit I don’t miss the calories at all.

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