| You are planning an elegant dinner party, with | | | | side, that's a highly tempting item most of us |
| delicious food and drinks. But you know that two | | | | would have trouble refusing! |
| or three of the guests you really want around | | | | 4. Include a pureed squash, sweet potato or |
| your table are trying to shed a few pounds. | | | | turnip dish along with your vegetables and salad. |
| Can you invite them with a clear conscience - | | | | Most green vegetables and salad are no problem |
| without feeling you are "sabotaging" their dieting | | | | for most dieters. Diet-conscious guests can also |
| efforts? At the same time, can you mix them | | | | choose your pureed dishes instead of white |
| with guests who are not concerned about their | | | | potatoes or rice. These dishes fill the plate the |
| weight? | | | | same way that potatoes and rice do. And they |
| The answer is a resounding yes - as long as you | | | | have the same consistency as fluffy mashed |
| take five simple steps. | | | | potatoes. (The Atkins diet even recommends |
| The five steps are all designed to give your | | | | pureed cauliflower.) Diet-conscious guests can |
| diet-conscious guests inviting-looking choices they | | | | decline potatoes or rice knowing they will still have |
| can enjoy without risking their diet. All of them | | | | filling side dishes. |
| have the bonus advantage that they are | | | | In other words, your diet-conscious guests don't |
| inviting-looking for your non-dieting guests as well. | | | | need to feel deprived because they still have the |
| 1. Have a jug of sparkling water available for | | | | volume and texture of mashed potatoes in their |
| pre-dinner drinks. Garnish it with a lemon or lime | | | | vegetable purees. |
| so it looks special, and be sure to serve it in | | | | 5. Fresh fruit with chocolate bonbons is a great |
| lovely glasses. Your dieting friends will be happy to | | | | end to the meal. Your guests can eat the fruit |
| be drinking their sparkling water while others drink | | | | without worrying about calories. And since they |
| wine. | | | | have been so diet-conscious throughout the |
| The trick is in the visuals. The sparkling jug | | | | evening, they can treat themselves to a piece or |
| garnished with lemon or lime will look like a | | | | two of chocolate candy. |
| "designer drink" so diet-conscious guests don't feel | | | | If you were to offer a chocolate cake they might |
| deprived drinking it. | | | | not be able to resist a piece. But there is a huge |
| 2. Let the eyes of your dieting guests fall | | | | difference between a small piece of chocolate |
| immediately on a safe appetizer choice for them. | | | | candy and a serving of cake and icing. So let |
| Position a low fat appetizer front and center of | | | | them choose just a taste of chocolate instead of |
| any other appetizer choices. | | | | tempting them with a large serving. |
| A beautiful tray of crisp raw vegetables or a | | | | Now ask yourself - will your diet-conscious guests |
| tempting shrimp ring fills this bill very nicely. If | | | | feel deprived if they are served this kind of |
| guests can reach for attractive looking low fat | | | | menu? |
| appetizers, they won't feel so tempted to reach | | | | - "Designer" garnished sparkling water to drink |
| for the more calorie-laden choices. | | | | with appetizers |
| Now you've gotten your guests safely to the | | | | - Appetizers of fresh vegetable tray and/or |
| table without them breaking their diet resolutions. | | | | shrimp cocktail with lemon garnish |
| Keep on offering choices that minimize any sense | | | | - Savory herbed roast chicken or grilled steak |
| of deprivation. | | | | - Squash puree |
| 3. Choose a main dish that relies on savory herbs | | | | - As many vegetable and salad dishes as you |
| for its attraction. Don't choose a dish that relies | | | | wish |
| on a heavy sauce or gravy. | | | | - Fruit with chocolate bonbons |
| Steak is a dish that most people can eat happily | | | | I think you know the answer. Of course your |
| without loading it with calorie-laden sauces. Roast | | | | guests won't feel deprived. |
| or grilled chicken is another such choice. A piece | | | | Far from feeling deprived, your diet-conscious |
| of chicken flavored with rosemary or your herbs | | | | guests will probably heartily enjoy your meal. And |
| of choice smells good, looks good and tastes | | | | they will appreciate your thoughtful provision of |
| delicious. | | | | diet-conscious but delicious choices that still allow |
| Just don't include a large bowl of stuffing on the | | | | them to stick to their diet resolutions. |