Everyone post your best tips for parties, barbecues, any event that involves lots of eating of food!
I know this will be particularly useful with the 4th of July tomorrow, and throughout the summer people tend to have many pool parties and whatnot. So here we go!

One tip I've read somewhere around here that seems really good is to only take one plate of food, fill up 2/3 of the plate with veggies/salad, and 1/3 with whatever you want

Eat a healthy snack before the party.
If i know there is going to be a bunch of naughty food, I have a small super heathy meal befor so I'm not as hungry and ready to eat everything I see.
also, when I know I've had enough, I chew on some super minty gum. Mint+food=blech

If you know what sort of food will be served, or even if you're not sure about the details, decide in advance (like the day before!) what you're going to eat and put it into your tracker, if you use one, just to see where the calories will be. These won't be your final entries, it's just to give you an idea. For example, ONE medium-sized beef shortrib, barbecued, has about 250 calories. So now you know that you won't be eating half a dozen of those, will you?

Potato salad with egg has about 270 calories per cup, so now you know the truth about that.

A hot dog has around 250 cals. Put cheese on it and it's 350. And so it goes.

On the other hand, 3 oz. of green bean salad has maybe 100 cals.

So, having done your homework, you can figure out what to allow yourself so that you still are eating the party foods--and you know what you'll need to do to work it into your day.

Jay

Offer to bring food. I usually bring my own package of veggie burgers and whole grain buns. A big green salad, fruit tray or veggie tray are usually welcome. Fill up on healthy foods. Take "bites" of the high calorie foods you really really like, so you don't feel deprived. Skip alcohol, if possible - empty calories (or sip one drink slowly, alternating with club soda/lime). I always decide in advance - one plate, no going back (unless it's for fruit/vegetables, which I don't tend to limit).

I love the calorie tracker idea!

I try to keep at iced soda water or iced tea in one hand and the other in my pocket.

I will NOT stand next to the food table.

I WILL stand to my skinny sister-in-law! (Whom I love, by the way!)

Don't go anywhere. I tend to stay home on holidays. I don't like driving with all the nuts on the road.

However, I am considering riding my bike to the park. The City puts on a picnic each year. I'll just pack a backpack with some food and water and sit under a tree to enjoy it then bike back home. It will be some exercise riding, then walking for a while and biking home. I'll be home in time to see the fireworks the City sets off at the park and not have the traffice afterwards.

First, I am going to run in the morning to help keep appetite suppressed and set the tone for 'this is still a healthy day'.

Second, I am going to follow the same rules I set for my kids. ONE cookie. All the fruits and veggies you want.

Third, I planned the menu. We have having chicken fajitas. I am doing the marinade, supplying the 'right' tortillas and bringing the low-fat cheese and yogurt (instead of sour cream).

Fourth, be the designated driver. No empty beer calories.

Ask for help. "Honey, if you see me reaching for the chips, you have permission to ask me how I will feel AFTER I eat them."

I try to follow these rules:

Instead of a plate, use a napkin to hold food (It's pretty hard to use sauces and dips when using a napkin and I'd like to see someone hold ribs dripping w/ sauce and potato salad on a napkin), fruit and veggies sit very well on a napkin.

Carry a sparkling water or diet soda with a slice of lemon/lime. People are less likely to wonder why you're not "drinking" if you have something that at least looks like a high-ball in your hand. Also I love the idea of being the designated driver...even more reason to NOT drink.

Eat a high protein meal with some fibre before you go, both of these things will help keep the hungries at bay.

Cheers, Tamara

Man, I am so glad you made this thread. I have to go to a bbq today and I have been clueless as to what to do to avoid the bad things. I think these are all wonderful things to do.

Go in with the attitude that you are not going to overeat and you are going to stay on plan. Remind yourself of why you are doing this and why want to stay on plan before you go. Remind yourself that you have a choice about what you eat, what you weigh, and how you look and that you have chosen to lose weight. I find that my attitude can make a big difference. If I go to the party with the attitude that I'm going to blow it; I blow it big time, every time. If I go in with the attitude that I'm going to stay on plan, I still often end up eating more than I'd like, but it's not usually quite so bad.

Grab a non-alcoholic, no calorie beverage right away. It gives you something to put in your mouth and it's hard to eat and hold a beverage at the same time.

Talk to people. Mingle, move around, get involved in a long conversation, whatever is easiest for you. It's also hard to eat when you're talking. Make it a goal to talk to as many people for as long as you can. Just don't stand next to the buffet while you're talking !

Are there games being played? If yes, get involved in them. You can't eat and play frisbee or softball at the same time. Plus it's exercise!

Eat the veggies. Become the queen of crudites! Offer to bring a veggie tray with your own low calorie dip. Try to eat several veggies plain for every one that you eat with dip.

Have fun and try not to obsess about it too much. Whatever happens, it's only one day and you've got the rest of your life to get to your goal. I've been to so many parties; some I went to with the best of intentions and did great, some I went with the worst of intentions and did horrible, some I went to with the best of intentions and still did horrible (probably alcohol was involved ). Whatever happened, I got back on plan the next day and within a week it was as if it never happened. And even with all the party disasters, I've still progressed steadily towards my goal.

And I have to say that I disagree with cbmare. Declining invitations because of the food involved is sometimes a trap that I fall into and I don't think it's healthy. Once in a while is okay, but there's more to life than food and dieting. It's important to have friends and you won't have them for very long if you keep declining their invitations.