12 Healthy Tips for Enjoying Parties

By Jane Barthelemy.
Everyone loves to go out and relax with friends. However when you go to a gathering, do you feel challenged to stay true to your diet and eat healthy? Sometimes we are offered a scary array of delicious food. It’s easy to give in to temptation and suffer weight gain or digestive consequences later. Here are 12 tips to make it through a party feeling great with no negative feelings.

1. Observe your Cravings.
Which of the five flavors do you crave most? Sweet, Spicy, Salty, Sour, or Bitter? Do you feel a desire for chips, or desserts? Or hot, spicy foods? Craving signals an imbalance in the body. That may be your weak point, so once you’ve discovered it, you can be observant. 

2.  Go for the Veggies, not the Carbs.
My personal experience is that refined carbs and sugars are the big culprits in weight gain. Bread, dough wraps, crackers, chips, and sweets are carbohydrates, which can cause weight gain almost immediately. So skip the carbs and enjoy the fresh veggies instead.

3. Sugars are public enemy #1.
Sugars destabilize your metabolism and causes weight gain. That includes honey, agave, maple syrup, rice syrup, etc. If you crave sweets, try my new book Paleo Desserts, 125 Delicious Everyday Favorites, Gluten and Grain-free! These recipes are low-carb, tasty and healthy, sweetened with zero carb chicory root. Or browse the free Paleo Dessert Recipes on this site.

4. Skip processed and GMO foods.
Go easy on chips and prepared dips. They contain preservatives, GMO’s and unhealthy additives that cause me to swell up, bloat and be in a bad mood. So I focus on the vegetables.

5. Watch your serving size, and consider eating before going out.
Keep your portions small. But at the same time, be kind to yourself and don’t deprive your body. Deprivation can lead to over-eating later. You can always grab a plate and pretend to eat. Try not to talk about your diet. Before going to a party, eat something healthy and simple. Like fresh vegetable sticks with chicken breast, or a low-sugar Granny Smith apple with almond butter.

6. Be careful of the protein quality.
In my body, processed, cured meats, and smoked foods spell disaster, making me feel puffy and irritable. I’m better off eating organic grass-fed meats, organic chicken and wild fish. They’re natural, free of GMO’s, pesticides, preservatives, antibiotics and hormones.

7. Chew slowly and enjoy!
Chewing food is sensual and delicious. See how long you can savor each bite………………

8. Keep Moving.
Exercise helps to process emotions and eliminate toxins from the body. Choose your favorite exercise program. Do it every day, and know you’re worth it!

9. Get plenty of sleep.
We need more sleep, especially when the weather is cold. We don’t hibernate like bears, but it’s important to rest deeply and get at least 8 hours sleep every night.

10. Drink plenty of water.
It’s especially important to stay hydrated in the winter. Heating systems tend to dry the skin and especially the mucous membranes, opening them to microbes, colds and flu. Poor hydration leads to poor digestion and constipation. Sometimes just hydration is enough to prevent these common seasonal ailments. Fluid is essential for nutrients to pass through the delicate membranes of the intestines to reach the blood and body tissues where they’re needed.

11. Drink pure filtered water, and plenty of hot liquids.
Avoid cold drinks, which stress the immune system, and substitute herb tea or hot water with lemon. Stay away from bottled water in plastic containers. Installing a good quality filter on your sink is healthier and more economical in the long run. Instead of plastic, carry a stainless steel water bottle in your purse or backpack.

12. Find new ways to de-stress, and avoid emotional eating
Be creative! Find something to laugh about every day. Stop and take 10 deep breaths. Or do a quick round of EFT tapping. Discover the art of having fun.