Plan Z Diet: Strategies for Success at Holiday Parties

Come spend some time around my Plan Z Diet dinner table. I'll show you my holiday party strategies for success

By: Zola
Chief Dieter
Plan Z Diet

People want to know how to keep from gaining the 6 – 7 pounds many do at the holidays while on the Plan Z Diet. If you are determined not to gain weight over the holidays, this is how to do it:

1. Scope out the buffet.
Rather than just taking one thing after another, peruse the whole buffet first. Walk end to end. Count the options that are actually low carb and good for you. You might see you have lots of good options so you are less tempted to fall into a sugar trap.

2. Before you “dig in,” go get your drink.
Meet a couple of people. Start a conversation so you don’t end up in a corner with nothing to do but pick food off your plate.

3. Keep your hands full.
If you truly want to fend off the temptation on the Plan Z Diet, keep your hands full. Have your drink in one hand and if you’re a woman, have a purse in the other. A clutch keeps your other hand busy. Guys, it’s usually perfectly polite to have your other hand in your pants pocket.

4. Don’t arrive hungry.
Indulge in some protein and/or fat before you go. This is a must-do tip if you're on the Plan Z Diet. Even a chunk of cheese or some nuts will fill your tummy while you drive on over and when you get there you won’t be famished.

5. Set a goal to talk to people.
If you say you are going to have 4 conversations before you hit the buffet you might be so busy talking that food becomes less of an issue.

6. Use a small plate or a napkin.
If either of these is an option, go with those. If a bigger plate is your only option, tell yourself how many morsels are going to be your limit. Cocktail caterers tell clients to plan 6 pieces per person. I would not go over that. Remember they are figuring some people won’t eat at all and some will seriously overeat. You don’t want to be in the latter group. This means six appetizer pieces; not six helpings of Aunt Edna’s lasagna.

7. If you are going to attend more than one event in an evening, only plan to eat at one – and stick to it.
Figure out who you think will have the better and/or healthier food and go with that one.

8. Head for the shrimp.
This is a great Plan Z Diet tip. Shrimp cocktail is an amazing protein to fill you up without a lot of calories. And besides, for most budgets this is a treat! The cocktail sauce is good too, or dip into salsa.

9. If you are going to eat chips and guacamole use this helpful Plan Z Diet tip: put your guacamole on a plate, take 3 chips and re-use them.
Literally scrape the guacamole off with your lips and bite a teeny bit of chip. This works for crackers and Uncle Mitch’s cheese ball too.

10. Hit the veggies and the guacamole and the creamy dips.
Skip the sugary stuff.

11. Bring a dessert.
Guarantee you’ll have a healthy dessert option by bringing your own. Looking for inspiration? Try my Plan Z Diet Chocolate Mousse! Bring the mousse in a big bowl and cover the top of the mousse with plastic wrap. This can be set on the buffet for all to indulge. No one will know there’s no sugar!