If someone has ever given you a hard time for turning down a cookie and said this: “Come on, just eat one. All you eat is veggies!” Well, you know what I mean!

It may be easier to validate your personal food choices if you have a food allergy or choose to be gluten-free or vegetarian, but doing so just because you are committed to improving your health can be tricky, with people quick to question your food choices. It’s also possible they feel insecure of their own choices.

 And this dialogue goes both ways when you’re silently or not-so-silently admonishing someone: “Oh, I wish I could order those French fries, but I could never eat so many carbs for one meal.”

 The key is to rephrase these conversations so they are positive moments. There is no reason to talk about “good” carbs or “bad” carbs when you can call the food you choose to eat as “delicious”, “fulfilling” or “satisfying”.

Fortunately, compared to years past, low carb living is top of mind for many people, which makes it a lot easier to make lower carb choices while you’re eating out or socializing with family and friends. Your fellow diners will probably be quite supportive, or they may be following their own version of a low carb lifestyle and be curious about Atkins. Though the last thing you want to do is make the meal all about you and your eating habits, you can reframe the conversation in a positive way if it does come up.