Before you head to the party sit down and have a snack. Eating a full meal might make you feel uncomfortable, but a quick snack can rectify that. Have a piece of toast with jelly, a handful of nuts or a piece of fruit. Having anything in your stomach can keep you from overeating once you get to your party.

As soon as you arrive at the party and get past the introductions and hellos, work your way over to the bar or cooler and get a glass of something low in calories like a diet soda. If there's alcohol served pick something like a gin and tonic or a light beer, which has lower calories than any of the other drinks. If you do drink alcohol, alternate between alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks. For example have a gin and tonic, then grab a glass of water or a diet soda. Just make sure you keep something in your hand all night. When one hand is occupied, you're less likely to reach for snacks to keep yourself busy.

Then spend some time looking over the food options, before you start loading your plate. It's easy to start loading up your plate with fatty foods before you see everything they have on the table. If your host is serving fresh, steamed or grilled vegetables fill your plate with those first. Only after you've eaten those should you go back for a second helping. More than likely you'll already start to feel full before you get to the fatty foods.