Change a Food-Based Friendship into a Healthy Relationship

If you and a friend spend most of your time together eating treats like hot fudge sundaes and doughnuts, it's time to learn to focus on health.
Recent studies indicate associating with those who are overweight can be, in some ways, "contagious." Get on the healthy lifestyle train with these tips:

1. Change food rituals that you share. I used to have a best friend in college with whom I shared a love of exotic restaurants. The problem: we tended to persuade each other to overindulge in foods such as rich desserts. When we decided to lose weight together, we succeeded in keeping our friendship strong - AND achieving our healthy food goal!

2. Make fitness dates instead of food dates. For example, suppose you always meet your friend at an ice cream cafe. Propose a change of pace, literally! Invite your buddy to a skating rink or for a walk on the beach. Make it an outing that you both enjoy.

3. Plan ahead. Love to head to the movie theatre for the latest releases? You don't have to sacrifice your cinema satisfaction! But when it comes to your automatic stroll to the food stand for a family-sized container of chocolate candy and an enormous soda, it's time to cut that ritual short. Take along a bottle of water and a pack of sugarless gum. Note: Avoid lecturing your friend - if she or he wants to nosh away on fattening foods, focus on being a role model and skip the lecture.

4. Try taking a class together. Some of the best friendships I've made are through classes. Whether it's a healthy cooking class or a Pilates class, learning together can help you discover common interests, learn, and explore new skills. It's great both for forming new friendships and firming up familiar friendships.

5. Avoid food-focused gifts and celebrations. Do you routinely give each other gifts such as boxes of chocolates? Do you regularly celebrate your birthdays at the fanciest bakery in town? Set an example by giving your friend gifts such as an hour with a massage therapist. And for your birthday, suggest that you enjoy a day at a spa together. Positive changes can start a new way of thinking that renews your friendship.

6. Volunteer together for an action-focused cause. If you both love animals, for example, consider volunteering to walk dogs at a local animal shelter. Volunteering benefits you in every way, mind, body, and spirit!