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Author:
Michelle Selica

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.

Some of the most popular diets include no carbohydrates or few carbohydrates. For instance, Atkins restricts processed or refined carbs. The South Beach Diet also considers carbohydrates a complete no-no until later in the diet. However, near the last phase, many South Beach dieters can eat "good carbohydrates". In another popular diet, The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, the dieter can eat carbohydrates once a day as long as they're balanced with other proteins and vegetables.

So, what is a hostess to serve for these finicky eaters? Believe it or not, you have lots of choices. To start, leave out prepackaged party finger foods with a high calorie count in with every toss. You can find much healthier and tastier dishes that will interest both your dieting and non-dieting guests. The simplest way to pick out foods is to start with a fun party theme. By picking out a theme first, you shift the emphasis from food to activities, which many dieters appreciate. Some ideas for party themes include outdoor activities like Bocce ball, special events like Masters golf, TV shows like Desperate Housewives, and party games like Bunco.

To add an element of pleasure to otherwise uninteresting foods, spice up and add flair to the presentation. For example, why pile carrots, celery and tomatoes on a dish alone when you can arrange them in a rainbow to serve with low-fat yogurt mixed with guacamole seasoning. Try forming a rainbow with fruits too. And rather than just setting out fatty desserts, scoop berries into fun cups and leave by the desserts.

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 dark chocolate is now proclaimed as having health benefits? In moderation, of course! Another tip that will benefit us all when serving desserts is to cut the pieces slightly smaller. Then everyone will be happy for those who need more can ask, while those dieting can feel good for only having one piece!

A sit down dinner should be held at a leisurely pace rather than racing from one course to the next. The slower pace allows people to enjoy their servings rather than taking in too many calories too quickly to recognize that they're full. Try preparing meats on a grill or chilled shrimp rather than fried and breaded meats. Many dieters appreciate soup, if the base doesn't contain starch. You don't have to eliminate breads. Instead, offer multi-grain or wheat breads.

Attending a party while on a diet or hosting a party with many guests who are on a diet can be a bit nerve wracking. However, when activities other than gathering in the kitchen area are involved, more dieting guests feel more like socializing. Even though Martha Stewart was commenting on dieting, you can also use this wisdom to help you plan your next social affair, "A diet is when you have to go to some length to change your width."

About the Author :

Copyright 2006 Michelle Selica. All rights reserved. Michelle Selica runs Food Diet, helping you find diet related resources. Click here to see her archive of articles: http://www.foodiet.com/archive/


Article Source: www.iSnare.com

| Article Keywords: Healthy Diets

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