How We Can Avoid Eating At The Party

Party food is tasty and tempting, but most of your choices are high in fat, calories, salt or sugar. Overeating is easy to do at a party because the food is just sitting there, and you might consume too much without noticing as you mingle and chat. While an occasional indulgence won't harm your health, it's best to take action to avoid eating too much at your next gathering.

Healthy Diet

If your diet is filled with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy and whole grains, you are likely getting all the vitamins and minerals you need for good health. These foods provide nutritious ways to fill you up so that you eat less overall. An added bonus of eating a healthy diet is that you are less likely to want to eat unhealthy snacks at parties.

Eat Before You Go

Don't go to a party hungry. If you're famished, you're more likely to head straight to the food table and start eating. Chances are, you won't be eating the most nutritious foods though. Eat a high-fiber or high-protein snack before you go to the party. It's a lot easier to limit party food if you're not hungry. Have an apple with peanut butter or a slice of whole-wheat toast with almond butter. Make three or four whole-grain crackers with cheese or eat a carton of low-fat yogurt with a handful of almonds or walnuts. Sliced vegetables with low-fat ranch dressing is another filling snack that can help prevent you from eating unhealthy foods at the party. Eat your snack slowly. According to a 2009 study published in the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism," eating slowly can stop you from eating too much. When your body gets the signal that it's full, you're less likely to keep eating once you get to the party.

Drink Water

Drink plenty of water. Water helps fill your stomach so that you are less likely to feel hungry. It also gives you something to put in your mouth that doesn't contain calories or fat. Mindless eating, which often occurs as you visit with friends at a party, can cause you to consume far more food than you need or even want. Hold a glass of water in your hand instead, and you'll be less likely to mindlessly nibble on the foods at the buffet table.

Move Away

Stay away from the food table. It's easier said than done, but chatting with friends across the room will help prevent you from filling your plate repeatedly with unhealthy foods. Move your conversation outside to keep the buffet table out of sight. MayoClinic.com notes that simply seeing appetizing food is all it may take to tempt you to overeat. If the food is right in front of you and it looks good, you're more likely to eat more than you should. Keeping the food out of your sight is a simple way to keep yourself from eating when you're not hungry.

Tips

Keep healthy foods in your car or purse. Pack an apple, orange or banana. Each of these has a healthy dose of fiber, which fills you up so that you're less likely to be tempted by the buffet table. Fresh vegetables and a peanut butter sandwich on whole-wheat bread are filling options to take along. If you're hungry at the party, excuse yourself, go outside and have the healthy snack you packed before rejoining the party. If you get hungry and must eat at the party, choose vegetable crudites, fruit slices, shrimp cocktail or nuts. Take one small helping of each, eat it slowly and then move away from the food table.