23 Points®-saving party tricks
RSVP Yes! to staying on track.
The simplest way to not overeat…
…don’t show up starving. Here’s how:
• The day of the event, eat! Have regular-sized meals—just lean heavily on ZeroPoint® foods (ZPF), and get a mix of protein (eggs, poultry, seafood, lean red meat and tofu) and fiber (veggies, fruit, beans, and lentils).
• Before you leave, eat! Have a filling, low-Points snack. Try nonfat Greek yogurt with fruit, a cup of veggie soup, a turkey breast and veggie rollup, or hummus with veggies.
• While you’re there, eat! If you really want that baked Brie or to share nachos, do it! Have a small portion and enjoy each bite—depriving yourself is a drag, and it can backfire.
How to avoid friend- and food-fluence
Pals who pressure you into dessert, a buffet that just won’t quit, second helpings that magically appear on your plate—you got this.
If... | Try this | And/ or this |
|---|---|---|
The host or a friend is pushing you to eat more or try every dish. | Say "It all looks yummy, but I'm sticking to a few things I really enjoy." Then distract them with Q's about the food. | Take a small portion or just have a few bites—you dont have to clean your plate. |
Everything on the buffet looks incredible—and high in Points. | Rank your options, then take only your few top foods—or those you normally can't get—plus any ZPFs. | Serve yourself a little of everything on a smaller appetizer or salad plate to keep portions in check. |
You're the only one at the table who wants to make healthier choices. | Decide what you'll have quickly, close the menu, then order first to dodge passive peer pressure. | Order a brothy soup or salad starter to fill you up and keep you occupied when higher-Points apps arrive. |
Everyone's ordering dessert or another drink—and you didn't budget for it. | Order a side of fresh fruit or hot tea, espresso, or cappuccino with nonfat milk. | Have a bite of your friends' desserts. |
A friend suggests you both "take the night off" from tracking. | Support her decision but make it clear you're going to stick with it. | Consciously decide not to track—but eat slowly, be aware of portions, and plan to start up again tomorrow. |
There's an open bar. | Remind yourself that free drinks still "cost" Points, then decide the max you'll spend. | Stick to wine, light beer, or cocktails with 0-Points mixers, alternating each drink with a ZeroPoint one. |
Be mindful about mindless grazing
A few chips here, a dip or two there—there’s a better way.
• Always eat from a plate. Spoon up dips, serve yourself a portion of chips, take a few finger foods, then, when you’re done, ditch your plate—and don’t sit or stand within arm’s length of food.
• Drink up. Keep your hands occupied by sipping sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea. Drinking alcohol? Go for canned bevs (wine, seltzer) or beer for built-in portion control.
• Veg out for round two. Or revisit the fruit tray or shrimp platter—i.e. only get seconds of ZeroPoint or lower-Points options. Besides, lukewarm potato salad, sweating cheese, and congealed buffalo sauce won’t be that satisfying anyway.
BYO ZPF
Think a friend’s party menu might blow through your Budget? Earn brownie points and save Points by bringing a ZeroPoints dish to share—and lean on. A few filling crowd-pleasers:
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Make your Pointsreallycount
Whether it’s a holiday, party, or you’re out to eat, use your Budget for food that matters most. Ask yourself these questions to suss it out, then choose lower-Points options to build the rest of your meal.
Is there one food here that’s extra special?
If Grandma’s sweet potato pie gives you the warm fuzzies or Uncle John makes his famous sausage rolls only once a year, please dig in.
What dish could I never recreate at home?
Celebrating at a fancy resto? Try the chef’s specialty—or get a few plates to share.
Can I get my all-time favorite—and will it be good?
Loving a certain food is reason enough to spend your Points on it.
P.S. If you’re feeling meh about the menu,focus on the conversation and consider using your Points for a nice (or second) glass of wine or simple dessert.