Best tips for potlucks please

GoRun2
GoRun2 Posts: 460 Member
in Motivation and Support
I'm looking at my social calendar for the next 3 weeks. It is full of potlucks and "bring a hearty appetizer and a bottle to share".

The good news is that I get to bring a "healthier, lower cal" dish.

I could use your best tips for keeping my eating under control at these types of events.

TIA

Replies

  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,532 Member
    Bring a veggie platter and a low cal dip.

    I’ve done that and am surprised at how fast it disappears.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    BZAH10 wrote: »
    I like to look at everything available first and then decide what I REALLY want to eat. Small portions of good food is what I prefer.

    I do this too. If everything is set up on one table, I will go and pick up a few raw veggies and take a good look at what else is on the table. By the time the veggies have been eaten, I will have a plan in place with a good idea how many calories I will be eating so I can go back and get the rest of the food.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    7 layer dip is my go to hearty appetizer, and it's easy to make in a disposable chafing dish or baking pan so you don't even have to remember to bring anything home...

    1 can refried beans
    1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
    guacamole or avocado (1 or 2 depending on size)
    1 jar salsa (I like the chunky garden salsa but anything will do)
    1 sour cream (16 oz)
    1 shredded cheese (any will do but taco or cheddar are my favorite)
    1 can sliced black olives (small can)
    1 tomato diced

    layer it in that order in the dish, and grab a bag of corn chips, it's cheap, easy, delicious, healthy, and portable
  • RAinWA
    RAinWA Posts: 1,980 Member
    tcunbeliever wrote: »
    7 layer dip is my go to hearty appetizer, and it's easy to make in a disposable chafing dish or baking pan so you don't even have to remember to bring anything home...

    1 can refried beans
    1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
    guacamole or avocado (1 or 2 depending on size)
    1 jar salsa (I like the chunky garden salsa but anything will do)
    1 sour cream (16 oz)
    1 shredded cheese (any will do but taco or cheddar are my favorite)
    1 can sliced black olives (small can)
    1 tomato diced

    layer it in that order in the dish, and grab a bag of corn chips, it's cheap, easy, delicious, healthy, and portable

    Thanks for the recipe - I needed something to make for this weekend!

    (And I love your user name, rarely see someone who has read those!)
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    In addition to the one-through with no heaping strategy suggested earlier, at these types of events I try to sit or hang out as far from the buffet table as possible so that I'm not tempted to simply graze mindlessly.

    I also make sure to bring some iced tea or diet soda as part of my beverage contribution because the alcohol calories can add up pretty fast at these kinds of affairs, too.
  • janepotter2
    janepotter2 Posts: 2 Member
    I'd suggest eat a largish low cal meal an hour or so before you go so you feel quite full and then just have teaspoon size portions of what you fancy at the supper to taste it all and be sociable. For your own contribution, take something tasty which can be cut into small pieces so people can have as much or little as they want.
  • Katmary71
    Katmary71 Posts: 7,064 Member
    rosebarnalice wrote: »
    In addition to the one-through with no heaping strategy suggested earlier, at these types of events I try to sit or hang out as far from the buffet table as possible so that I'm not tempted to simply graze mindlessly.

    I also make sure to bring some iced tea or diet soda as part of my beverage contribution because the alcohol calories can add up pretty fast at these kinds of affairs, too.

    This is so important, I know if I stay talking around the food I'll start grabbing food I really don't want.
  • badenglishmajor
    badenglishmajor Posts: 11 Member
    I do two things.

    First, I bring something low cal and healthy. There are a ton of recipes on Pinterest.

    Second, I eat before I go. I make a small, healthy snack that's high in protein so I'm not hungry when I arrive. This helps me stave off cravings and if I am going to eat, I don't have as much.

    Best of luck. Potlucks are tricky!
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    Theres lots of options.

    Take very very small helpings and stop when youre just barely contentedly full (wait for it to settle).

    Bring a casserole and only eat yours.

    Try to log everything as you eat it and stop when you get to your planned amount.

    Eat before you go and just nibble a little bit while youre there.

    Potlucks are hard. Try to stah away from the mundane chips and things. If youre gonna go over by accident, do it on the interesting stuff that you cant have everyday!
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    My strategy for parties is I only eat the dishes I brought. That way I know what is in it, it's good for my diet, and I can easily log it into my counter. That rule also keeps me from being tempted to eat something I shouldn't.

    Other times I tell myself to stick to protein and veggies. You can't stray too much when that is your focus.
  • hixa30
    hixa30 Posts: 274 Member
    Eat a kilogram of mixed vegetables 15 minutes before leaving home. Not the inexpensive corn/peas/carrots but those half a dozen vegetables variety packs.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    I pass on parties and eating events when I'm trying to lose weight. I would be miserable at a pot luck with all sorts of food I couldn't eat or I'd eat too much of..

    But, if you want to go... I'd eat super light all day and exercise..then bring a few low calorie dishes that you can eat so you have something.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    *Charcuterie platter
    *Antipasto platter
    * Giant wheel of baked brie and walnut toppings with apples ( dietary substitute) .
    * Fruit platter
    *A platter filled with things you'd want to eat.
  • bernadettenz
    bernadettenz Posts: 252 Member
    I eat it all.
    Not a strategy of any kind, just utterly lacking in self control and terrified I'll miss out on any of the food.
    Best for me to just stay away, but I don't.
  • amwiggler
    amwiggler Posts: 428 Member
    I am a recent convert from ‘eat healthy before you go’ to ‘go hungry.’ For me, if I eat healthy before I go, I still eat at the potluck. Now I go hungry, circle once to see what I actually want to eat, eat reasonable portions slowly enough to enjoy them and then socialize away from the table. I’m having significantly more success this way - I am one who will eat at the potluck even if I’m full. It may be very different for you if you have better resistance.
  • FibroHiker
    FibroHiker Posts: 398 Member
    apullum wrote: »
    Bring something low calorie.

    Be choosy about what foods you try. Don't eat food that isn't "special." You can get a bag of chips anywhere, anytime. You can't say the same about your friend's lasagna. Pass on the chips, try the lasagna.

    Take small portions, just a bite or two of each thing. You can go back later if you're still hungry.

    If you don't like your portion of something, you don't have to finish it. Since you only took a small portion, you won't be wasting much.

    Don't hang out near the food. Go mingle somewhere on the other side of the room.

    I actually don't agree with the advice to eat before you go. It's fine to not eat the potluck food if you legitimately do not want any of it, but it's miserable to be standing around staring at food that looks good and that you're not eating. I also would regret missing out on those "special" foods.

    I was raised to eat all of every serving I took and it was a very hard rule for me to get rid of. I hated wasting food, especially when friends prepared it themselves. I was at a gathering once and saw someone pick up a brownie. She took one bite and said, "that is not worth the calories," then tossed the rest. But she was right. If you don't like something don't bother eating the rest. Save your calories for the foods you enjoy and do so in moderation at events.
  • ekboh
    ekboh Posts: 53 Member
    Bring stuff you know YOU can eat and eat that! If you don't know what's in a dish someone brought, don't chance it... think stuff with cheese, mayo, sugar etc- you never know exactly how much is in it so it's hard to estimate. Easier to stick to stuff you can quantify like a veggie platter, or packaged goods with the nutrition facts still on it. Good luck!!
  • GoRun2
    GoRun2 Posts: 460 Member
    Great ideas

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