Starving at the Wedding
By Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, and Nina Frusztajer Marquis, MD
Authors of The Serotonin Power Diet

Recently I went to two weddings that left me starved for two different reasons. The first started later than it should have (something about the bride’s mother needing more hair spray) and the drinks and appetizers did not begin until after 8 PM. Since I am afraid that any food in my hand will end up on my clothes, I always avoid stand-up eating at parties. Since I had eaten last at lunchtime, I was hungry by the time the doors to the banquet hall were opened and we were allowed to sit down.

Alas, by the time the obligatory rituals of greeting the married couple finished, their first dance complete and a few early toasts had been made, another hour had passed without a morsel of food in sight. Finally, around 9:15, a salad was served. More dancing followed and, I am not exaggerating when I say, the main course was put on the tables no earlier than 11 PM. Since we had a long drive home, we left without eating.

A month later, I attended a late afternoon wedding. It started on time and appetizers were passed around during the receiving line, about 20 minutes later. The problem was, the appetizers consisted primarily of cucumber slices, an occasional teeny shrimp, very oily pizza (spots on the dress?) and mushrooms and pineapple on skewers (not my favorite combination). Oh well, I thought, I will wait for the main course.

The main course was not put out on the buffet tables for two more hours! By this time, the appetizers ran out and I was without even a toothpick to nibble on. And, worse, the main course was beef, posing difficulty for those of us who no longer eat red meat. This time we made up an excuse, left early, changed our clothes and went out to dinner.

True, many wedding guests have had the opposite problem: so much food that the wedding ceremony was simply a short interlude between bouts of eating and drinking. But in speaking with many friends, relatives and weight-loss clients, I have begun to realize that a starving wedding guest is not so rare. The interval between leaving home for the wedding and sitting down to eat at the reception can easily be 6 hours or longer.

What's the solution? Send money and stay home? Not likely. Fill up on appetizers and go to dry cleaner the next day? That is one possibility if the appetizers are available and (just as important), not so calorie-loaded that your wedding attire stops fitting before the wedding couple’s first dance.

My solution, and one which I am sharing with my weight-loss clients, is to have a small meal or snack right before leaving home. In addition, be sure to pack a small protein or granola bar in your evening bag so you can munch on it discreetly during the reception (especially if there are no appetizers that are appropriate for your diet). Failing to bring any snack, you may also be able to fend off hunger pangs with bread or rolls if they are on the table when you (finally) are seated. If none appear, ask the wait staff to bring some. And, finally, remember: even if some marriages last forever, the wedding does not.

Copyright © 2007 Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, and Nina Frusztajer Marquis, MD

Authors
Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, has been recognized worldwide for decades of pioneering research into the relationship of food, mood, brain, and appetite. Dr. Wurtman received her PhD in cell biology from MIT and took additional training as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in nutrition/obesity. The author of five books for the general public, she has written more than 40 peer-reviewed articles for professional publications. She splits her time between Boston and Miami.

Nina Frusztajer Marquis, MD, received her master's degree in nutrition from Columbia University and her medical degree from George Washington University. Her articles on weight, stress, and lifestyle have appeared in numerous publications. With Judith Wurtman, she founded the Adara Weight Loss Centers in the Boston, Miami and San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives.

They are the authors of The Serotonin Power Diet: Use Your Brain’s Natural Chemistry to Cut Cravings, Curb Emotional Overeating, and Lose Weight. Published by Rodale. January 2007; $24.95US/$31.00CAN; 1-59486-346-6.

For more information, please visit www.serotoninpowerdiet.com