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Fast ahead.
The medieval calendar is littered with feast days and fast days. The notable fast days were during Advent and Lent. Apply that thinking to the holidays. We already know there is merit in various intermittent fast days.
Big Christmas party on the 15th? Take off an extra few hundred cals the day before, and the day after, to provide for your indulgences. If you are magnetically attracted to high fat foods (I am) then make most of your reductions in the fats.
Practice estimating.
You get funny looks (I do anyway..) if you bring your scale to a party. Try this:
When you serve your meals, estimate what you think is on your plate. Do a visual estimate, then closes your eyes and pay attention to how heavy your hand says it is. Say the number out loud (don't know why, but for me it helps) then weigh it. With a little practice you can get within about 10%
I have found that I now have a good feel for what 7 grams of butter looks like. What a tablespoon of mayo looks like on a slice of bread.
Take pix of unfamiliar foods.
I never have potato salad at home. If I take a serving at a party meal, I intend to snap a picture. Later at home I can use the picture to remind me of what, and how much, look up a few recipes and get an approximation of what I ate.
Estimate glass volumes.
This is crucial for beverages -- the most notorious being eggnog. Pick up a cup and hold it in your left hand. In our right hand measure out 1 cup of water. With your hands over the sink, pour the water into the left hand cup. Pay attention to what it feels like. Do this for 1/2 cup and 1.5 cups too.
Now you need help: Get someone to pour water in your left hand cup. Say stop when you think it's at 1/2 cup, 1 cup, 1.5 cups (some of this depends on what you are drinking out of.
Try doing it with your eyes closed.
Take one of each kind of glass and mug you have. Pour 3/4 cup into one. Look at the next cup and estimate where you think 3/4 cup will be. Hint: most people will underestimate on tall narrow glasses, and over estimate on wide shallow glasses. If you have some water soluble or dry erase markers you can put a mark on the cup where you think the level will be. Otherwise, hold that cup with your thumbnail marking the level.
Bring your own beverage.
Sure you may have a glass of the host's wine, but follow it up with your own version of Perrier, tonic water, diet coke (yeah there are reasons to avoid artificial sweeteners. Your call.)
If you need booze to be social, start hungry and a little dehydrated.
The idea here is that the first drink will hit you quickly. Once you get talking, stop drinking booze. (Hard to do for a lot of us.) No need to drink all evening.
Have a high protein snack just before.
Something like a boiled egg. Protein staves off hunger, and you won't attack the hors d'oeuvres like a starving basset hound.
Stake out territory away from the munchies.
Grazing for me is an instinct. If it's there, I will eat. So by deliberately staying on the far side, the temptation is reduced.
Assess the value to you of what is offered.
Don't waste your calorie budget on things you can have at home, or things that are less than wonderful. I avoid buns. I'd rather have some of that coconut, marshmallow, mandarin orange salad. Skip the mashed potatoes in favour of stuffing. Lots of broccoli, skip the sauce.
Recognize that the scale will hate you in the morning.
Not only will you have eaten too much, but likely you will have eaten more salt than normal, and more carbs than normal. Both contribute to water gain. Resume your diet. The party will cost you a few days loss time, but soon you will be back on track.
What tips do you have for the holidays?
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