Holiday Party Survival Tips

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Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

1. Think first – “Do I really like this?” “Is this on my list of favorites?”2. Taste next – Ask yourself, “Is it as good as I thought it would be?” If not, don’t eat it!3. Eat a small meal before attending special events and parties.4. Remember your exercise. Special event schedules can disrupt your routine.5. Set realistic goals – strive for weight maintenance rather than weight loss.6. Remember that alcohol increases appetite and contributes calories.7. Make the first drink at a party low calorie; save the high-calorie beverage for the end of the party.8. Learn the art of saying “No, thank you. I’m full.”9. Visualize yourself succeeding.10. Practice moderation, not deprivation.11. Focus on enjoying family and friends.12. Position yourself away from the buffet table. Concentrate on the conversation instead.13. Bring a healthful dish to share. Some favorite ideas include: tossed salad, vegetable platter, fresh fruit salad, pasta salad, platter of turkey sandwiches or vegetable soup.14. Concentrate on calorie-free intangibles like music and atmosphere.15. Be positive – don’t give up. Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged if you have a bad day. But remember, there is always tomorrow to redeem yourself by eating more salads and getting more exercise!!16. Prolong the enjoyment; eat a small portion and save some for tomorrow.17. Think of food safety – refrigerate leftovers promptly.18. Be prepared for social pressures.19. If you are the cook, you are in charge of fat and calories.20. Survey the buffet before filling your plate. Instead of trying a lot of items, fill half with vegetables and then select a few favorites to enjoy.By Mary Wilson, MS, RD,Extension Nutrition Specialist,University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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