How to Eat Sensibly at a Potluck

Whether you're at the office or family get-together, potlucks tend to ruin your diet. Why? When faced with a big spread of food, you can't help but overeat. However, there is a solution. You can eat sensibly at a potluck if you have a strategy.

1- Plan your meal.
Most potlucks include all of the four food groups: vegetables, meat, dairy and fruit. As a result, you can plan for a healthy meal if you think about your options in advance. Purpose to build a colorful meal full of a variety of foods that are satisfying, but medium to low in calories. Don't pick from dishes blindly or you'll go wrong.

2- Limit your carbs.
Unfortunately, potlucks tend to be loaded with carbs like pies, breads and chips. Not only does these kinds of foods help you pack on the pounds, but also they are also often high in sodium. Eat sensibly at a potluck by limiting the amount you eat. Take one half of a slice of cake or the smallest sweet roll. Then, bypass all of the rest, so you avoid going overboard.

3- Watch portion size.
Dieticians recommend portion sizes of food no bigger than an adult fist. Visualize this image as you select food at the next potluck. You plate should have enough room for at least four different dishes without any of them touching. If your plate doesn't, you're about to eat too much and blow your diet.

4- Avoid sugary drinks.
Soda, punch and lemonade are full of sugar and sodium. For this reason, they make you gain weight and feel bloated. Avoid them at potlucks and opt for water. Water will help you digest foods you normally don't eat and cleanse your system. This beverage also goes well with any food, so you're drink doesn't overwhelm the meal you are eating.

5- Focus on raw veggies.
You can eat sensibly at a potluck by focusing on raw vegetables. Start with the vegetable platter and follow with the salad bowl. Then, build the rest of your meal around these dishes. Keep your meal lo-cal by using low-fat dips and balsamic dressing.

6- Select fish and chicken.
Even when deep-fried fish and chicken tend to be healthier than beef; therefore, add these proteins to your plate. Select grilled pieces of these meats if possible. If not, get a small cut of fish or chicken wing to control your calories.

These tips will help you eat sensibly at a potluck. Do them and enjoy the socialization and food that goes with these kinds of events without destroying your diet.