Partying And Dieting Are Not An Oxymoron
by Michelle Selica
http://www.foodiet.com
To quote Martha Stewart about dieting, "The toughest part of
a diet isn't watching what you eat. It's watching what
other people eat." When a dieter attends a party, he often
feels lost on what to eat. Also, many hosts feel lost on
what is and isn't appropriate to serve at a party. Do you
leave out fat or eliminate carbohydrates? It isn't
reasonable to expect a host to know exactly what to serve to
satisfy all the latest diet crazes. Instead, a host can set
up an environment that focuses more on socializing and less
on feasting.
Every popular diet focuses on different ways to eat healthy.
Some diets emphasize no carbs while others permit some
carbs. For example, the Atkins diet doesn't allow processed
or refined carbs and the South Beach Diet starts out by
prohibiting carbs. However, in the last stages of the South
Beach Diet, dieters can eat only good carbs. Some diets
like Carbohydrate Addicts Diet allow carbs if only consumed
once a day along with a protein or vegetable.
So what options regarding food are left for the party's
hostess? Believe it or not, lots! If you leave out all the
prepackaged party finger foods that many times amount to 300
calories in one quick pop, you can create healthy and tasty
options for all of your guests - dieting or not. The
easiest way to select a spread is start by picking a fun
get-together theme. When the emphasis is less on what to
eat and more on what your guests can participate in, many
dieters feel much more comfortable attending a get-together.
Some theme ideas include outdoor leisure activities like
Bocce ball, TV show finales and special events, and party
games like Bunco or Scavenger Hunts.
To add some pizazz to your foods that might otherwise look
blas~, try arrangements that add visual appeal. For
instance, arrange fruits and vegetables in the shape of a
rainbow or other interesting pattern. Also, scoop fruits
into fun cups and leave those by the dessert area.
The dessert area is often the most heartbreaking area for a
dieter. Many dieters feel deprived and break down to eat
the sugar laced treats. Offer some desserts made with sugar
replacements like Splenda, which taste just as good as the
calorie loaded version. Also, replace candy with naturally
flavored shaved ice. Did you know that many dieters are
allowed to enjoy the benefits of small servings of certain
chocolates like dark chocolate? When servicing desserts,
cut the pieces slightly smaller out of courtesy.
If planning a sit down meal, try not to rush your guests
from one dish to the next. Eating in leisure reduces the
temptation to over stuff and quickly depositing treats in
your mouth. Avoid breaded or fried meats; instead, turn to
grilled chicken and chilled shrimp. If you serve soups,
start the soup from scratch and leave out starch. If breads
work well with your menu, avoid white breads and serve
multi-grain or wheat instead.
Hosting a party that will have many guests on a diet can
feel a bit overwhelming. However, many wonderful options
are available if you first concentrate on a theme and then
plan the food around it. You activities then take priority
over swarming over the buffet area in the kitchen. To
follow Martha Stewart's advice, "A diet is when you have to
go to some length to change your width."
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