A Guide to Sensible Eating at Holiday Parties

We're coming into that season again. You know the one, party season. It's time to eat, drink and be merry. The problem is that a little can go a long way when it comes to throwing a monkey wrench into a healthy diet. Left unchecked, the holiday food-fest has a reputation for adding five or more pounds to the waistlines of the unsuspecting.

You don't have to fall victim to the carnage. It all starts with a little foresight. You have a better chance to be in control of what you eat if you start with a game plan. So, feel free to accept every invitation you receive and plan on throwing a party or two of your own.

The first coping strategy for any party is to be sure never to arrive hungry. Starvation has a way of undermining the best laid plans. A basic salad, fruit or maybe something with enough protein to give a feeling of fullness for a longer time like a baked chicken breast or a scrambled egg should be enough to take the edge off your appetite and restore you to being in control of your food consumption.

If you're bringing something to contribute to the party, make sure your selection is something you would prefer to eat. A vegetable tray, chilled shrimp, or a fruit basket will guarantee some low calorie, low fat alternatives to whatever temptations the host or hostess puts in front of you.

When your host offers the first drink of the evening, make your choice a sparkling water with a twist of lemon or lime. Save your alcohol consumption for future drinks and, even then, alternate back and forth between a calorie-laden alcoholic drink or punch and the water with a twist that got your evening started. Wine will contribute fewer calories than most mixed drinks and you get the added benefit of looking glamorous while holding a crystal wine goblet.

With drink in hand, now is the time to make your way to the corner of the room furthest away from the buffet table. Make new friends or reacquaint yourself with old ones while surveying the room, and the food, from a distance. After all, parties are all about socializing. The food is just a prop to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome.

When the time comes to gravitate towards the food table, think small. If you have the option, choose the smaller dessert plate to fill instead of the dinner plate. You'll fill your plate faster, using less food, and your eyes might fool your stomach into thinking you're eating more than you really are.

Don't deprive yourself completely. You could end up paying for the deprivation with an over-the-top eating binge. A good rule of thumb for filling your plate, regardless of what size you've chosen, is to fill half the plate with vegetables. Keep the dips and sauces to a minimum, please. Fill one quarter of your plate with one of the protein sources; chicken, beef, pork or maybe the seafood selection. The remaining quarter of the plate is for your carbohydrates. Knock yourself out with pasta salad, holiday breads or potatoes au gratin; just don't exceed the quarter plate limit. Keep in mind that a second trip through the buffet line is probably not a good idea.

After dinner, put off eating dessert for awhile. The night is still young, pace yourself. When you do finally make your way to the dessert table, go there with a plan. No matter how tempting you may find the cheesecake, plum pudding or cookie tray, this is not a place where you want to graze. Make a selection, one selection, and walk away. If you linger to compare the relative merits of the fondue pot versus the pineapple upside down cake, the temptation to "try a little of both" may be more than you can bear.

Now is a good time to opt for coffee or tea as your beverage of choice. The eggnog or cordial will look better to you on someone else's hips.

Come to any party armed with a mental list of current event topics. The more you have to say, the more people will be attracted to you and your witty conversation. The more you talk, the less you will be likely to eat. Before you know it, the evening will be over and you will have found yourself having had a wonderful time with friends, family or co-workers and still be able to take pride in the fact that you were able to maintain your own healthy standards for eating.