SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Posted 07 November 2006

GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START

Drinks | Starters | Main Courses |Desserts

A healthy regime does not have to be the end of your social life. In fact, it cannot mean the end of your social life because if it does your, good intentions have no chance of going the distance.

As you start to alter your lifestyle, you realise how simple it can be to make minor adjustments, like doing an activity or going for a walk with friends rather than making eating and drinking the focus of every get together.

However, there are times when meeting up for a meal is the only natural option. Although studies show that most people eat more calories when they are in company, that doesn’t have to be a disaster.

When you are in a restaurant, a few small amendments to your normal habits - like boycotting the bread, asking for sauces or dressings to be served on the side, removing all visible fat and only opting for two courses - can make a big difference.

However, going to friends’ for dinner can be more difficult. You don’t want to mention that you are watching what you eat because you don’t want to inconvenience them, but on the other hand, you don’t want to leave too much or be too fussy for fear of offending your host.

So, what’s the solution? Simple. Invite them to yours instead. It can be really easy to throw a simple low calorie, low fat dinner party - especially in the summer.

There’s no need to make a big deal about the fact you have made a healthy option (although you might want to save up the information for some other time when people are telling you that ‘they don’t understand how you can live on a diet of rabbit food’) and the chances are that no one will even notice.

WHAT TO DRINK

At 7 calories per gram, alcohol has nearly as many calories as protein and carbohydrate put together. Because it does not contain any nutrients, they are empty calories.

Drinking increases your appetite and decreases you willpower, so, all in all, it’s a recipe for disaster.

To help you to abstain (just because your guests are drinking you don’t have to over-indulge), prepare a big jug of non-alcoholic cocktail, using fruit juice, sparking water and low calorie lemonade.

We love these fruity treats:

VIRGIN SUNRISE
250ml orange juice
250ml cranberry juice
250ml sparkling water
500ml diet lemonade

Portions (per serving): 1 fruit

To decorate, freeze quartered strawberries and mint leaves in ice trays and they will look irresistible.

LIME AND CHERRY CRUSH
1 litre Sprite Zero, Diet 7UP or low calorie lemon and lime crush
100ml grenadine
Juice of a lime
Crushed ice
1 handful of maraschino cherries (to garnish)

Portions (per serving): 0.75 fats, oils and junk

ALCOHOL

If you do want to have alcohol with your meal then spritzers, with dry white wine and plenty of sparkling water are your best option.

Portions (per glass): 0.75 fats, oils and junk

Alternatively, go for clear spirits (such as gin or vodka) with slimline tonic or diet lemonade. But make sure that your measures are pub-sized - the bigger they are the more calories you’ll be consuming.

Portions (per 25ml): 0.5 fats, oils and junk

Or knock up a tasty jug of Pimms - if you add plenty of fruit, mint and cucumber it can even count toward your five portions of fruit and vegetables.