Tip 20: Party Smart!

With the super bowl coming up this weekend, I figured I would post some party tips for anyone on a diet.

Parties can be a diet-destroying disaster for someone who is trying to eat healthy. Fatty dips, cheese-drenched appetizers, greasy finger food,  all nutritionally empty and calorie overloaded foods tend to be the norm at parties. Football parties especially tend to have high calorie beer and stuff like potato chips (which are easy to overeat because they are not filling), and also have the added disadvantage of being a party where everyone sits around the TV instead of walking around and mingling.

Tip 20: Party Smart!


Going to a party doesn't have to mean a destruction of all your hard work! Click "read more" for smarter snack foods, what snacks you should never reach for, some important things to remember, and superbowl specific party advice!


Smarter snack foods!
- fresh fruits or veggies (usually served with some kind of dip or yogurt, fruits and veggies are always the smartest choice, high in fiber, water, and nutrition and low in calories)
- salsa (low in calories, and if you like spicy, the heat actually boosts metabolism)
- whole grain tortilla chips (better than white, but you still need to make sure you keep your portion in check)
- plain popcorn (low in calories, as long as it is not drenched in butter or salt which will make you retain water weight)
- The Laughing Cow cheese wedges and whole grain crackers (keep the portion in check!)
- low-calorie or light beer, or even better ice water!
- bruschetta (low in calories and really yummy! make sure to eat it with whole grain chips or pita)
- shrimp (raw or boiled  are very high in protein and low in calories. avoid breaded or fried which can be high in calories and fat)

Never reach for these snacks!
- Spinach Artichoke dip (it sounds good in theory- veggies are good right? but this dip is extremely high in fat and calories!)
- potato chips (empty calories- not filling! and everyone has a tendency to overeat chips if they are in a bowl or bag)
- Nacho cheese or other cheese-based dips (high in fat and calories, and we tend to over-pile our chip with cheese)
- anything wrapped in bacon (this is common sense! haha)
- fried chicken (or anything fried for that matter is usually high in calories)
- mozzarella sticks
- pigs in a blanket (hot dogs wrapped in bread)
- cheese puffs

Some important things to remember:
- if you're unsure of what foods will be at a party, bring one of your own that's healthy! The host will most likely appreciate your thoughtfulness, and at the same time you have a back-up in case the food they're presenting isn't up to par
- if there's going to be dessert, bring a fruit tray (it would be a good idea to ask the host first in case they were going to prepare one). fruit is sweet and satisfying but low in calories. and everyone (including kids) love fruit! this is something my mom and I do at parties, and it's always a big hit with kids and adults alike!
- don't eat out of the bag/bowl/tray. grab a plate or bowl and deliberately put small portions on your plate. then walk away form the food or mingle. this will help keep you from overeating, and will make you more aware of how much you're consuming.
- make your own decisions about  bad foods. think about what it is made of, and how it is made (fried? baked? grilled?). don't be afraid to ask if you're unsure. you can always cite an allergy if asking would be embarrassing. but ask politely and make sure not to be accusing (for example: don't say "is this deep fried? it looks fatty..." say instead "it looks good, how did you make it?")
- if theres something there you absolutely can't resist- take a small taste-sized portion to satisfy your craving without killing your diet. only do this if you absolutely need to! avoid giving in as much as possible- especially if you're (like me) unable to control yourself once you give in for the first bite.
- eat slowly while mingling. it's okay NOT to gulp the food on your plate down in thirty seconds! for example: eat a bite, talk for 5 minutes, eat another bite. this can help you eat less, and will give your body time to be able to tell you  you're get full.

Superbowl (and football) specific party advice:
- suggest playing a game afterwards! if its too snowy or cold to play football outside, pull out your wii or xbox kinect and play together! (the video games depends on how many guests you have, but you can always play with your family after everyones left)
- offer some of the smarter snack foods listed above :)
- if you need to have potato chips, buy baked ones and preferably keep them in a small bowl instead of a larger one (people will naturally take less)
- buy light beer (depending on your guests, i would make sure you also have enough regular beer)
- make small amount of the unhealthy food that guests expect (up to you and it depends on your guests)
- try grilling or making a meal instead of offering only snack food (this way you can have less snack food to begin with)
- don't start the party too early, to avoid overeating

Enjoy your parties! Have fun without ruining your hard work! :)

Just Another Whale,
MyzzLyzz