1. Fruits and Veggies
Gotta love that tasty fiber: If you fill up on kiwi, kebabs or crudites, you'll be less likely to lunge for something naughty.
2. Dips: A Good Bet
Hummus and guacamole, just need two tablespoons. They contain healthy fats, but the calories add up.
3. Dips: A Bad Bet
Hot spinach dip. Although the spinach makes it sound low-cal, it's loaded with cream cheese and mozzarella.
4. Don't Walk in Ravenous
We recommend a pre-party game plan that involves sustenance, be it a protein bar or one of his Thermo Bubbles packets, powdered vitamin supplements laced with appetite-suppressing chromium picolinate. That way, you won't do anything crazy.
5. Cocktails: A Good Bet
Vodka and soda is the clear winner. It's all in the mixer, baby. Who knew that tonic water is packed with sugar? (Eleven grams in a measly four ounces, similar to a bottle of Sprite.) Conversely, soda water contains exactly zero sugar. Clearly, vodka-and-soda beats the calorie pants off a gin-and-tonic.
6. Cocktails: The Bad Bet
Fluorescent cocktails are not a bright idea. Basically, anything with color isn't good, it's usually caloric and sugary.
7. Cheese: Tread Carefully
It may seem like a small, carb-free indulgence, but calories from cheese pile up quickly. To add insult to injury, dairy slows down the digestive process.
8. Hors d'oeuvres: The Sneaky Good Stuff
Pigs in a blanket! For extra credit, peel off that blanket. They're certainly not as bad as a fried wonton. Steer clear of anything fried.
9. Hors d'oeuvres: The Not-So-Sneaky Bad Stuff
Savory turnovers, because there's no removing that flaky shell. Also, be wary of treats wrapped in bacon. Which doesn't mean never, ever. One won't kill you!
10. Sport a Tight Frock
Try wearing something to the party that's a little snug around the waist. That has a real tendency to minimize what you eat.
11. Un-Devil Those Eggs
Though yummy and (relatively) healthy, deviled eggs are typically made with high-fat mayo. So, as is, maybe just have one. Lusting after a second? Scoop out the middle. You can avoid the yolk very easily, and that egg white is pure protein.
12. Sea-ing is Believing
Tuna carpaccio is a good bet, so is shrimp. Fish generally tends to be a smart choice.
13. Be a Two-Fisted Drinker
To prevent mindless noshing at fancy cocktail parties, Keller is a big fan of making it nearly impossible. Hold a glass of water in your dominant hand, and your cocktail - preferably red wine - in your less-dominant hand. That makes it very challenging to pick up random bits of food.
14. Tiny Treats Spell Trouble
Whether it's Baked by Melissa or some other purveyor of miniature goodies, the current trend for teensy versions of classic desserts can wreak havoc on your waistline. Each of those little Baked By Melissa cupcakes is super, super rich. And you can easily eat five or six, which is like a big piece of cake.
