How-To Guide On Holiday Party Indulgence

Eat, drink and be merry … and still fit into your party dress when you leave said party. Easier said than done, right? Well, from finger foods to drinks to dessert, this is your guide to getting through the holiday party season with your waistline intact.

Pre-Gaming Isn’t Just For Sporting Events

At a party, most women are hovering over the buffet table, thinking about how famished they are and how scrumptious all the little mini-foods look. But there are a few things you can do to avoid that mid-soirèe stomach growl.

Skipping Should Only Be A Physical Activity: Skipping meals the day of a party is only going to set you up for diet failure.

“Arriving at the party hungry will make you reach for the first thing you see (and the second, and the third)—whether it's healthy or not,” says Elisa Zied, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and author of "Feed Your Family Right!"

Instead, she suggests cutting back on refined carbs and fats throughout the day to give yourself some leeway, and including protein and fiber in every meal to help you feel full.

For example, at breakfast, have oat bran cereal with skim milk, a low-fat yogurt, and a piece of fruit. At lunch, throw some beans into your salad and swap the oil-based dressing for balsamic vinegar with a little mustard mixed in. Have a healthy snack—a handful of nuts or air-popped popcorn—right before the party.

Working Out Is Not An Excuse To Eat More: Unfortunately, compensating for overeating by working out more is not a fool-proof way to prevent weight gain.

“One exercise session is not going to make up for the hundreds of extra calories consumed at a party,” Zied says. “Instead, add an extra 10 minutes to your workout for a week, if you know you may be overly tempted. When you exercise just to compensate for calorie intake, you're setting yourself up to feel bad when you can't work off a high-calorie meal.”

‘Small’ Doesn’t Mean You Should Try Them All

Tasting a little bit of everything may sound like a good way to prevent yourself from getting stuck at the spinach dip section of the table, but Zied says studies have shown that eating multiple types of food may actually turn on your appetite. (Basically, though you may be full from one type of food, you want to try all the other types of goodies available and will simply “find room.”)

To avoid this, Zied suggests surveying the entire food spread before actually picking anything up. Then you can choose a few things that you really want.

Count the snack foods as one meal—aim for 500 to 600 calories, including your drink, she adds. (Hint: Take two small-sized plates of food; one for snacks, the other for appetizers.)

Okay, so now that you have your two small plates in hand, what should you fill them with?

Think Before You Dip: Just because you eat it on a celery stick doesn't make it healthy. “Many dips are oily, sugary, and high in sodium,” Zied says, which is why two tablespoons should be your portion limit.

Calorie Rundown
Hummus = 54 calories, 2.6g fat, 0.3g saturated fat
Salsa = 9 calories, 0.1g fat, 0g saturated fat
Salmon & Cream Cheese = 70 calories, 6g fat, 4g saturated fat
Spinach = 78 calories, 7.6g fat, 2g saturated fat

Your Best Choice
Salsa. “Tomatoes are a low-calorie source of vitamins A and C and lycopene, which protects the heart,” Zied says.

The Cheese No Longer Stands Alone: Cloned, packaged queso is so … cheesy. But despite advances in fanciness, one thing hasn't changed: the fat content. Therefore, your serving should be no more than 2 ounces, about the length of two fingers. And remember, Zied cautions, pick only two or three varieties, so as not to provoke your appetite.

Calorie Rundown
Cheddar = 229 calories, 19g fat, 12g saturated fat
Chevre = 207 calories, 17g fat, 12g saturated fat
Brie = 189 calories, 16g fat, 10g saturated fat
Swiss = 215 calories, 16g fat, 10g saturated fat
Gruyere = 234 calories, 18g fat, 11g saturated fat
Mozzarella (whole milk) = 170 calories, 13g fat, 7g saturated fat Blue = 200 calories, 16g fat, 11g saturated fat
Gouda = 202 calories, 16g fat, 10g saturated fat

Your Best Choice
Fresh mozzarella is the lowest in fat and calories, but its mild taste may not satisfy your craving. The good thing is that all the varieties listed here are good sources of protein, and Gruyere, Swiss, and cheddar contain the most calcium.

Beware The Bite-Size: Small, bite-size poppers can be dicey, Zied says, because the calories can add up quickly. She suggests selecting three items as your main course, and getting your fill early on. Celebrity event planner Colin Cowie, author of Colin Cowie Chic, says, “I like to serve lighter dishes first and heavier ones afterward.”

Calorie Rundown
3 California Sushi Rolls = 125 calories, 2g fat, 0.5g saturated fat
Mini Burgers (1 burger) = 111 calories, 5g fat, 1.8g saturated fat Shrimp Cocktail = 83 calories, 0.8g fat, 0.2g saturated fat
Chicken Skewers = 94 calories, 2g fat, 0.6g saturated fat

Your Best Choice
Shrimp is the leanest, but each item listed here has some nutritional value, says Zied.

Liquid Lessons: It is a cocktail party and you expect to see some neon-tinged fizz. Unfortunately, these trendy drinks are often chock-full of sugar. Choose the one you really want, Zied suggests—if you allow yourself to indulge the first time around, you are less likely to have a second drink.

Calorie Rundown
Sangria (4 ounces) = 82 calories
Mojito (one drink) = 135 calories
Champagne with Chambord  = 159 calories
Lemon Drop (one drink) = 237 calories

Your Best Choice
If all of these sound equally delicious, go for the Sangria. “Both the red wine and the fruit contain antioxidants,” Zied says.

Dare To Taste Dessert: Dessert has a bad reputation, but it’s not the enemy. Like everything else, you just have to be conscious of what you are eating.

Calorie Rundown
Apple (1/8 of a 9-inch pie) = 411 calories, 19g fat, 5g saturated
Pumpkin (1/8 of a 9-inch pie) = 316 calories, 14g fat, 5g saturated
Carrot cake (3-inch square) = 250 calories, 11g fat, 3g saturated Gingerbread (2-by-3-inch slice) = 263 calories, 5g fat, 3g saturated Shortbread cookies (2) = 160 calories, 8g fat, 2g saturated Chocolate-chip cookies (3) = 234 calories, 14g fat, 7g saturated Dipped strawberries (4 berries) = 166 calories, 9g fat, 0g saturated

Source: Fitness Magazine