1) Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table
knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave
immediately. Go next door where they’re serving rum balls.
2) Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine
single-malt scotch, it’s rare. In fact, it’s even rarer than single-malt
scotch. You can’t find it any other time of year but now. So drink up!
Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re
going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy
it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!
3) If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of
your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4) As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk
or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a
sports car with an automatic transmission.
5) Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to
control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to
eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6) Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year’s.
7) You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This
is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet
table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
8) If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.
9) Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of
each. Or, if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin.
Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert?
Labor Day?
10) Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have
some standards.
11) One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Reread tips;
start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
