Husband wants me to have dinner party!!!

Make "diet food" for everyone!

Start with a salad loaded with veggies and an olive oil dressing.

You could do a veggie lasagna
or
Grilled chicken with brown rice pilaf and grilled veggies
or
Thin cut flank steak with gorgonzola and chive sauce with orzo

and for dessert do a peach melba or mousse!

You could just cook healthy stuff instead of "heavy" stuff.

Salad course, lots of veggie sides, a reasonable meat or two, a starch, fruit and a light dessert like a sorbet or something.

Give yourself permission to leave the table to refill the water pitcher/put a new wine bottle out, get someone more ice, or grab the second platter of sides for someone, etc. Playing host can keep you active enough that you don't have time to be tempted into seconds or thirds if you want it to be.

I totally agree with Raeleek - you can EASILY do a healthy dinner party!!

Restaurant food is usually calorific because they don't worry about putting cream and oil in to their heart's content, but if you're making it you can make healthier substitutions without anyone knowing ;P

Like Raeleek said, do some lovely grilled meat, veggies - everyone loves roast or grilled veg!! mmm! - and a dessert.

If I was doing this, to avoid temptation I'd also make meals that you plate up and serve rather than everyone helping themselves - that way, you'll be less tempted to pile a larger portion onto your plate, and will be less likely to go back for seconds! Same goes for the dessert, serve them in little dishes or ramekins or glasses, that way you get controlled portions

Not to mention if you prepare as much of the stuff yourself and give the house a good clean and tidy before everyone arrives - really put your back into it - I bet you'll have actually burned off most of the cals! Cooking and cleaning are my main forms of activity that get me up and burning

Good luck!

just do it. i would love to have a husband & throw a dinner party tonight.

i will be at the nearest bar tonight talking to strangers & pretending to have fun. <<<<<<<< feeling sorry for myself a bit.

have fun & enjoy life.

Get your husband to BBQ while you make some sides. That's what we do when we have people over...it takes the load off of me to get so much done.

And for sides.....cube some potatoes, season to your liking, add some oil and onion....wrap in foil....throw it on the BBQ and let him deal with it.

Also he could grill some veggies too.

You could make a nice full salad, and a desert. That way that is a big meal but you aren't doing alot. The prep work is easy, he could do the hard part.

just do it. i would love to have a husband & throw a dinner party tonight.

i will be at the nearest bar tonight talking to strangers & pretending to have fun. <<<<<<<< feeling sorry for myself a bit.

have fun & enjoy life.

Just cause she has what you want doesn't mean she has to like it.

---

As far as diet food, a huge salad to start is typical for before the main course yet not "diet food" if you don't make it so. For dinner, a grilled meat, some roasted veggies, etc are all healthy, but no one perceives them as diet food unless they're aiming to eat healthy. Dessert is another story, but you can always take a simple thing like apple pie and make it a smidgen healthier. Like a reduced fat graham cracker crust, etc.

Appetizers at a party usually almost always have fruit and veggie platters. You can also do stuffed mushrooms which are healthy, but taste like 1000 calories if they're made right :laugh:

Make "diet food" for everyone!

Big mistake!

Non dieters hate us dieters going on about calorie this, and carbohydrate that. They REALLY hate the thought of an enforced diet!

You will be spoken about for years to come! Even if you are on a diet you would go out for a meal planning on having a nice break from your diet grub. Major disappointment to go to somebodys expecting Lobster Thermidor only to be served MORE grilled chciken and boiled carrots!

Don't tell them it's diet!

The fact that you have "diet food" in your vocabulary is a big issue.

Make "diet food" for everyone!

Big mistake!

Non dieters hate us dieters going on about calorie this, and carbohydrate that. They REALLY hate the thought of an enforced diet!

You will be spoken about for years to come! Even if you are on a diet you would go out for a meal planning on having a nice break from your diet grub. Major disappointment to go to somebodys expecting Lobster Thermidor only to be served MORE grilled chciken and boiled carrots!

Pssst you don't have to tell people they're eating 'diet food'!

I have friends round for dinner a lot, just little gatherings, and I always make meals that fit into my daily calorie quotas...and they're clueless :P

The fact that you have "diet food" in your vocabulary is a big issue.

It's not that bad an issue. People interchange "diet" and "lifestyle change." To her guests it would be "diet food" because, chances are, they're not worried about eating healthy and making healthful choices.

Losing weight isn't about just dropping the pounds, it's keeping them off! This is a lifestyle change - you'll have dinner parties in your life, right?

Make healthier food and involve your husband. Just because the food isn't heavy, doesn't mean it doesn't taste good!

Check out Cooking Light - tons of great recipes online.

OMG. Cooking Light. Their magazines are like bibles to me. So many good recipes :bigsmile:

Hello? Why isn't he cooking this himself?

I recently had a dinner party.
How I was able to keep the calories down was to avoid starches like potatoes, corn or rice.
I served:

APPETIZER:
Rillette de Porc (bought from the store - it is like pork paté)
Cranberry & hazelnut Raincoast crackers

MAIN:
Grilled fennel, garlic & beets (on the BBQ)
Goat cheese crumble Salad with cherry tomatoes with Balsamic vinegar
BBQ Pork ribs (cooked in slow cooker 5 hours prior)

DESSERT:
Fresh blueberries
Greek Yogurt

DRINKS:
Water
Tea
Wine (guests brought it)

Make "diet food" for everyone!

Big mistake!

Non dieters hate us dieters going on about calorie this, and carbohydrate that. They REALLY hate the thought of an enforced diet!

You will be spoken about for years to come! Even if you are on a diet you would go out for a meal planning on having a nice break from your diet grub. Major disappointment to go to somebodys expecting Lobster Thermidor only to be served MORE grilled chciken and boiled carrots!

Don't tell them it's diet!

A bit naive

Healthy food is not, never has been, and never will be as tasty as the unhealthy alternative for the majority.

If it were then there wouldn't be an obesity epedemic!

You may well prefer it, many on here will prefer it, but believe me, presented with a rack of juicy calorie laden, sticky barbeque sauce ribs, or your "nobody will notice' diet food, they will chose the former! Most people these days know what's good for them, they know the difference, but chose the unhealthy options regardless

Make "diet food" for everyone!

Big mistake!

Non dieters hate us dieters going on about calorie this, and carbohydrate that. They REALLY hate the thought of an enforced diet!

You will be spoken about for years to come! Even if you are on a diet you would go out for a meal planning on having a nice break from your diet grub. Major disappointment to go to somebodys expecting Lobster Thermidor only to be served MORE grilled chciken and boiled carrots!

Pssst you don't have to tell people they're eating 'diet food'!

I have friends round for dinner a lot, just little gatherings, and I always make meals that fit into my daily calorie quotas...and they're clueless :P

99% of people would never even contemplate being anything but grateful for a lovely dinner made by someone else - and so they shouldn't be! But they know it isn't the usual, no calories spared grub