Summer’s festivities are aplenty and with all that tantalizing food around, sticking to your diet is practically impossible. But, you don’t need to fret or feel guilty about overindulging if you follow these ten tips.
1. Swap fried for baked or grilled.
Anything with a batter is most likely deep fried, so stay away. Grilled and baked foods have significantly less fat which is a more figure-friendly choice. Five pieces of chicken nuggets contain 300 calories and 18 grams of fat while 4 ounces of chicken shish tawook will not set your diet back, at only 120 calories and 1.5 grams of fat.
2. Make friends with the veggies.
Don’t hang around the tempting fatty section of the buffet by putting your willpower to the test. Save yourself the agony and stand near the salads and veggie platters. Mayonnaise based dishes are laden with calories, so stay away from anything smothered in white. Try dipping your veggies with humus, which has only 27 calories and 1.3 grams of fat, while mayonnaise contains 57 calories and 5 grams in just one tablespoon.
3. Focus on the entertainment.
There is no doubt that food is usually the center of attraction at gatherings but try to steer your focus away from food by socializing or hitting the dance floor.
4. Watch for sugary drinks.
Don’t guzzle fruit juices, as they are high in sugar and calories. Opt for sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon. Or if you need more sweetness, mix a touch of juice with sparkling water because a glass of fruit juice ranges from 100 (orange) to 500 (sweetened lemonade from concentrate) calories for an 8-ounce serving.
5. Choose lower calorie sweets.
Depending on the dessert, calories can range from a sponge cake piece (190 calories) to tiramisu (602 calories). Go for one square of dark chocolate (27 calories) or 8-ounces of Jello at 160 calories. Fruit salad is another great choice at 125 calories for one 8-ounce cup.
6. Limit the nuts.
Nuts are a nutritious, heart-healthy food, but the calories do add up so count it as part of your meal. If you go nuts over nuts, limit your intake to 1.5 ounces (1 handful equals 1-ounce) so stick with no more than one and a half times a handful. The assortment of nuts ranges from 160 (cashews) to 200 (macadamias) calories per ounce. Completely avoiding nuts is not a good idea because they are satiating and serve as a great weight loss tool to curb your appetite.
7. Use a small plate.
Don’t reach for the dinner plate; eat from a smaller appetizer plate. You are bound to pile on the food if the plate is large.
8. Learn your cues.
Some people eat because they are nervous in social settings, or from boredom. Knowing the causes of overeating is just as important as what you are eating.
9. Have a bite before you leave.
Do not arrive too hungry at a party or else you will eat everything in sight and regret it later.
10. Use the party as a stress relieving tool.
Stress slows down weight loss, so learn to have fun by absorbing the ambiance, enjoying the music, and mingling with nice company. But don’t get used to staying out too late as poor sleep can dampen your weight loss success.
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