Posted Dec 24, 2010
Aren’t holiday parties really awkward when it’s no secret that you’re dieting?
The hostess is stressed that there will be something on the buffet you can eat. Your friends are hesitant to sample sweets they love in front of you.
And you can just feel the eyes on your back as you go through the buffet as those who know you’re dieting assess what’s going onto your plate. That’s not paranoia; any dieter will tell you that’s fact.
Holiday parties with their tempting high-calorie dishes make it hard to stay on a diet. Here are some tips I’ve learned from Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and even Internet sites that might help you avoid a holiday weight gain.
–Plan ahead. If you aren’t sure what’s going to be served, ask your hostess. She knows you’re dieting; she won’t be offended. Then decide before you leave how much you are going to eat.
–Keep track. Once you know what the hostess is serving, Weight Watchers dieters can figure their points allotment and decide what foods they want to eat to fill that number before and during the party. This little exercise can help anyone feel in control of what they’re eating.
–Fill up before you go. Remember that scene in “Gone With the Wind” where Mammy makes Scarlett O’Hara eat before she can leave for the Wilkes barbecue? Evidently, there’s more benefit to this other than Mammy’s admonition that “you can always tell a lady by the way she eats in front of folks.”
Just before leaving, eat raw veggies and drink a couple of glasses of water. Your stomach will be full of filling, points-free food, and you’ll be less likely to graze at the buffet.
–Eat several small meals. Don’t wait all day to eat thinking you’ll save your calories for the party food. All that accomplishes is making you so starved that you overindulge at the party. Instead, eat regular, light meals that day.
–Serve yourself half: Once you’ve decided how much you’ll eat, serve yourself half that amount. That leaves half available if you’re still hungry or for snacking.
This is one of those mind tricks they teach in diet classes that’s supposed to help you feel as though you’re eating more.
–Use the tablespoon rule. Rather than deprive yourself of foods you want at the party, use a tablespoon to dish up just a sample to your plate. You still get to taste the dishes, but you haven’t overindulged. I tried this last year, and it works.
–Don’t deny yourself: I’ve heard this repeatedly from local nutritionists and weight-loss counselors since starting this column. If you righteously pass up the foods you really want only to sit there and nibble carrot sticks, you’re setting yourself up to overindulge later because you’ll feel deprived. Don’t be a martyr; allow yourself a taste or two, just not a plate full.
–Buy, don’t bake: If the homeroom mother calls and asks you to send two dozen cookies for the class party, buy them, don’t bake. Visit your neighborhood bakery or buy chocolate chip cookies at Bi-Lo and arrange them on a cute tray. Remove the temptation to sample.
–Don’t eat leftovers: After the guests have gone, avoid late-night leftovers. It will hurt your stomach and your diet.
–Get off the couch: The more you eat, the more you should move to prevent a weight loss. Eat what you want, but exercise in some way on a daily basis.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.
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