How to Survive the Christmas Party Season

The office Christmas party is the dieter's worst enemy. Worse still is the party that's held at your local bar. The combination of sweet and alcoholic beverages and junk foods also brings a deluge of calories - before you're even aware of how much damage you've actually done. While you enjoy unwinding with friends, the alcohol might start to loosen your determination to keep your calories in check. Then there are the snacks, which are plentiful - and often salty enough to fire up your thirst, which is then quenched with another drink.

It's easy to lose track of how many calories you're taking in at a Christmas party. That doesn't mean you have to avoid socializing with friends, but it does help to have a strategy before diving in.

Some Useful Christmas Party "Survival" Tips

Snack before you go. With so much inexpensive, high-calorie food that's often served up at such a party, the last thing you want to do is to arrive with an empty stomach. Have a high protein snack late in the afternoon to tide you over until dinner - some Greek style yogurt, a protein shake, a few slices of turkey with some whole grain crackers or a bit of cottage cheese and fruit should do it.

Choose appetizers wisely. The snacks and appetizers that are typically offered at a Christmas party tend to be greasy, salty and high-calorie. And since the foods aren't "plated up" like a meal, it makes it more difficult to keep track of how much you've eaten and how many calories you've put away. Look for lower calorie items - like some raw veggies and hummus dip, some edamame (green soybeans) or maybe a prawn cocktail. If you want to dig into the snacks, it's best to ask your server for a small plate and portion out a few items for yourself. When your plate is empty, you're done!

Know the calories in your drinks. If you are planning to drink alcohol, your lowest calorie choices are beer and wine. A bottle of light beer or glass of wine has around 100 calories - far and away a better choice than many mixed drinks. That's because hard alcohol has over 100 calories per shot, and the mixers and add-ins (like coke, fruit juices, syrups and cream) can drive the calories sky high.

Alternate your drinks. Once you've had one alcoholic beverage, switch to something that's calorie-free, like some sparkling water, iced tea or a diet soda with a twist. Some people feel that having a drink in hand makes them appear more sociable - but that doesn't mean that the drink has to have alcohol or calories!

Focus on the fun. If your Christmas party is mainly focused on food and cocktails, it's time to shift your attention to the quality time you're having with your friends. Being sociable doesn't require that you have a cocktail in your hand or plateful of snacks in front of you.