If you’re working towards achieving or maintaining a healthy weight, an invitation to a holiday party featuring tempting desserts, drinks, and snacks can feel more like a test of willpower than a celebration. You don’t need an iron will to stay on track at a party—you just need a game plan. With a little bit of strategy and the help of Isagenix products, you can enjoy parties without worrying about your waistline. These three tips will help you to handle any holiday party with confidence.

1.       Don’t go hungry.

Remove the influence of a rumbling stomach by grabbing a light meal or snack before you go to a party. Isagenix products can serve as a defense against overeating by providing the right balance of protein, energy-fueling carbohydrates, and good fats to help you feel satisfied without packing in too many calories. By managing hunger in advance, you can feel confident that appetite won’t overwhelm your better judgment.

• Before a Cocktail Party

Grab an IsaLean® Shake before you leave as a quick and easy meal. IsaLean Shake provides 24 grams of high-quality, undenatured whey and milk protein and eight grams of fiber to help you stay satisfied longer. At only 240 calories, you can enjoy a few treats at the party without feeling like you’ve gone overboard. If you need to eat on the run, unwrap an IsaLean® Bar for a convenient, great-tasting choice that is ready to go.

• Before a Dinner Party

Ward off excessive hunger by choosing a light snack before going to a dinner party. With hunger in check, you can savor your meal without worrying about unintentional over-indulgence. Pick Slim Cakes® for a fiber-rich snack for just 100 calories or Whey Thins™, a savory and filling, 100-calorie option packed with 10 grams of protein. IsaPro® Vanilla or Chocolate can be used for a pre-party, protein-packed snack, providing 18 grams of whey protein and 100 calories per scoop.

 2.       Beware of the buffet.

When it comes to avoiding common party pitfalls, knowledge is power. If you know what situations typically lead to overeating, you will be better able to steer clear of excess. Something that most parties have in common is a buffet of snacks and treats. Researchers who study the psychology of eating have found that people are likely to eat much more than they would normally when offered a greater variety of foods (1). One of the most surprising findings from research into the “buffet effect” is that people may eat as much as 25 percent more when choosing from a buffet than at a normal meal, without noticing a difference in how much food they have eaten. Having more food choices in front of us, the research suggests, can trick us into unintentionally eating more.

One common-sense approach to managing how much you eat in this party situation is to limit yourself to one trip through the buffet line. If you fill your plate on your first trip, you will be able to enjoy a taste of everything offered. If you find yourself contemplating a second round, it will be easier to realize that extra servings are just extra calories.

3.       Think before you drink.

Have you ever stopped to consider how many calories are in your glass? Whether you choose to toast the holiday season with a cocktail or stick to spiced apple cider, make sure you take notice of the calories from beverages in addition to calories from foods.

Alcoholic beverages in particular can add more calories than many people realize. The amount of alcohol in a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5-ounce shot glass of spirits contributes about 100 calories to your drink (2). When you account for the additional calories contributed by the mixers in your cocktail, it’s easy to see that calories from beverages add up quickly.

Among the greatest concerns with beverages is how easily these calories can go unnoticed. The best strategy for overcoming this party challenge is to slow down. Alternate your alcoholic or sugary drinks with calorie-free beverages like club soda or water. This approach can help you cut the number of high-calorie drinks in half, while still allowing you to mingle at the party with a glass in hand.

Party Perspective

Parties are an important part of the holiday season and celebrating does not need to conflict with your healthy lifestyle goals. It’s important to keep occasional indulgences in perspective within the context of your overall diet. If you’re using an Isagenix 30-day Cleansing and Fat Burning System, you already have a comprehensive, flexible tool to support your long-term nutrition goals. Instead of thinking of holiday parties as a source of temptation or feeling guilty about “cheating,” you can use Isagenix products with these three strategies to help you handle any party situation with confidence.