- Fire Your Partner in Crime
Do you have one of those friends who seems to treat the holidays like a big, long buffet? Does she want you to try "just a bite" of everything she enjoys? (While she always, mysteriously stays a size 4. Sorry... I digress.)
Obviously, I have one of those friends so I try to attend just one or two events with my "partner in eating crimes," and I let her go stag from then on. After all, she can't meet new people if she's always talking to me, right? It improves her social life and maintains my waistline.
- Load Up on Low-Fat
When you serve your food, make a point to fill up your plate with lower-fat, lower-calorie foods first, then add less diet-friendly items. A good rule of thumb is to use about two-thirds of your plate for whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and one-third for other types of foods. Another tactic is to fill up a plate with healthy foods, eat them, wait about 10 minutes, and then go for the "bad" stuff. Chances are you'll feel so full you won't even make it through that second plate.
- Arrive Fashionably Late
Another tactic for eating less is to arrive a little bit late to the party. Once everyone else has made a round at the buffet, the higher-fat fare is usually picked over and guests are typically more interested in mingling than loading up a plate of goodies. You may be less likely to stick around the spread too long yourself so you can join in, too.
- Eat Like a Kid
If you have kids, you know just how picky they can be about what they do and don't want to eat. When you're at a party, be as picky as an 8 year old and only eat the foods you really, really want. Pass up the same-old, same-old for that special dish you look forward to all year long. Don't waste calories on the usual party munchies like chips or peanuts. You can eat potato chips any old time, right?
- Slow Your Roll!
...or your chicken... or your cake. You get the picture. Slowing down to chew your food sufficiently will help you eat less and notice when you're starting to feel full. Keep in mind that it takes about 20 minutes for your body to signal you that you're feeling full. If you chew slowly, you'll eat less while giving yourself time to know when you've had enough.
- Buddy Up!
Join forces with a like-minded friend and keep each other in check while you're at holiday get-togethers. Make a pact before the big event that you will be the voice of reason for each other if things get out of control. Just don't get mad when your pal takes that pig in a blanket out of your hand. And don't scarf down that pumpkin pie tart that you kindly remove from hers.
