‘Tis the Season…For A Holiday Party Eating Strategy!

How many holiday parties do you have penciled in on your calendar? If you’re like most people, you probably have quite a few but, before the season gets in full swing, let’s take a few minutes to come up with a game plan.

Phase 2, VLCD

For those of you in the low-calorie phase of the diet, Phase 2:

• The guidelines are simple (“simple”, not “easy”!) You know exactly what you can eat and drink, so simply follow the diet.
• When attending a holiday meal, see if you can find out what the main entrée will be. If it’s not allowed on the diet, bring your own food but treat yourself by having a more expensive entrée like crab or filet.
• Invest extra time and effort in your food preparation to denote the special occasion and avoid the feeling of deprivation. For example, instead of peeling and eating an orange, cut up ½ orange with ½handful of sliced strawberries in a fancy desert dish.
• Focus on the people rather than the food and enjoy!

Phase 3 and Beyond

• For those in maintenance, Phase 3, or in “the rest of your life”, follow these tips:
• Don’t skip meals or arrive at a holiday party on an empty stomach. In fact, it’s a good idea to eat a healthy snack and have a tall glass of water before going to the party.
• Don’t sit or stand next to snacks like bowls of nuts, mints or chocolates.
• Be careful with all drinks. Non-alcoholic beverages can be full of calories and sugar. Alcoholic beverages also have calories and sugar, and they lessen inhibitions and induce overeating.
• If you’re asked to bring a dish, bring a healthy one. For example, take fresh green beans instead of green bean casserole.
• Scan the buffet table before you make your plate so you can map it out in your brain.
• If the hostess has provided different sizes of dinner plates, maybe one size for the kids and one size for the adults, use a kid’s plate.
• Go heavy on items like roast turkey, salad, and fresh vegetables but go light on things that are saucy and creamy, i.e., broccoli rice casserole.
• Take small portions. If you think about it, the greatest satisfaction comes from the first bite and the last bite of something, why waste calories on so many bites in between?
• Take smaller bites and chew your food longer than normal. This will trick your brain into thinking you’ve eaten more.
• Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly, savoring the flavor of all your favorite holiday foods.
• Stop eating when you feel satisfied, not stuffed.
• Relocate yourself away from the table after you’ve finished eating. As you resume visiting with other guests, keep yourself more than an arm’s length away from cookie trays and dessert bars.

Following these guidelines will help you to stay energized, stay comfortable and, most importantly, stay in control. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!