LLVLC On YouTube (Episode 29): You Don't Have To Be A Low-Carb Recluse At Parties

Why are these the typical kind of foods served at a party?

We've all been invited to parties before, right? What a great time to get together with friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else to have some fun, frolicking, and don't forget the food! Did I mention food--cakes, pies, doughnuts, pizza...the kind of stuff that will absolutely make you cringe if you are livin' la vida low-carb. What's up with that anyway? Who declared those the official approved menu items for parties and get-togethers? UGH! It makes you wanna be a party-pooper and just stay home, right?

In Episode 29 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I are back in the studio again to explore this always timely topic about what a low-carber is to do when you are invited to a party. No, it's not the end of the world and it can actually be an excellent time to be an amazing witness to others about the incredible lifestyle change you have made. But you gotta be ready for the comments from well-meaning folks and arm yourself with strategies for getting through the party without throwing your low-carb life down the toilet in the process.

Take a good look at what you should focus on at parties in today's video:



Whenever I am invited to a party, I always like to bring a special low-carb dish so that I KNOW there will be at least ONE item there I can eat. For example, in our video today, Christine mentioned that I recently brought True Lemon Cheesecake to a get-together with the choir from our church (see what I ate on this day at my Low-Carb Menus blog). It was an excellent dessert to go with the toppings from the pizza they served. Yes, I had to improvise, but you do what you gotta do. It's the beauty of living healthy the livin' la vida low-carb way!

Be sure to check out the notes on the right-hand side of the video at YouTube to see if you were chosen as the winner of the FREE Grill Daddy Pro for being the winner of the drawing among those who left comments for our previous video. If so, then please e-mail me your name and address so we can get you your prize as soon as possible. THANKS for all your wonderful comments and feel free to add some more to this episode.

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Party On With Your Low-Carb South Beach Diet

Healthy low-carb party planning has never been made easier

Holidays. What a frightening moment for anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb! These special occasions are the one time that most people let their low-carb plan flail in the wind like a freshly plucked feather. Casting all your cares about your weight aside, you stuff your face with all the wrong kinds of food and then later regret that decision when you attempt to get back on track again.

Sound familiar anybody?

Well, enough already with the games we play around parties and holidays when we should be celebrating. How about an all-in-one low-carb resource guide to offer up some healthy low-carb recipes that are oh-so-yummy and delicious while packing a powerful nutritional punch as well? I think I've found it for you with The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook: Healthy Recipes for Entertaining Family and Friends.

Don't let the bright red color of this sixth book in The South Beach Diet series fool you into thinking it's just for Christmas! While it certainly provides recipes that are perfect for Christmas Day, including a unique Wake-Up Breakfast menu as well as Christmas Dinner, all of the other major holidays feature low-carb recipes as well, including New Year's Day, Valentines Day Dinner For 2, Passover Seder, Easter Gathering, Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Mother's Day Luncheon, Fourth of July Revel, Thanksgiving, Hannukkah, and Christmas Eve Dinner.

As for parties, The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook has so many recipes for virtually every party you can think of, such as a South Beach Phase 1 Kickoff Party (good to think about come January when people make New Year's resolutions), a Family Buffet, Baby Shower, Weekend Brunch, Super Bowl Bash, Tuscan Feast, French Bistro Party, Backyard Grill Fest, Hors d'Oeuvres for a Crowd, and a Rite of Passage Party.

Above everything, South Beach diet creator Dr. Arthur Agatson encourages low-carbers to get back on their weight loss plan if they do decide to indulge at parties. Resist the urge to stay off the diet and get yourself back on track. He gives some very practical advice to help you combat the urge to splurge during the holiday season that every low-carber won't want to miss.

If you are the host or hostess for your party or special dining event, then Dr. Agatston helps you think about the ambiance you want to convey. How many guests and what do they like? What style of serving do you want? Will this be format or informal? Do you want to present a theme? Additionally, don't forget to take care of yourself despite the stress these events can place on you. You'll want to use the convenient "Checklist For Success" provided to help you plan many weeks ahead of the party to make it as perfect as it can possibly be.

In fact, each holiday and party featured in this book includes a full menu listing with a "Party Game Plan" about how to best prepare for the big day, including pre-planned preparation to make sure the special attention you have given pays dividends on the day of the event. As for the recipes themselves, you get all the "Nutrition At A Glance" as usual for The South Beach Diet books as well as pertinent tips from Dr. Agatston.

As we have come to expect from The South Beach Diet books, there are some absolutely stunning pictures of many of the recipes in The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook that will make your mouth water and get you in the kitchen to whip up any of these 150 recipes right away! Who needs a holiday or party to start eating healthy right now?! Cooking low-carb recipes that will keep you and your guests happy is all you can ask for and this book delivers on that in the most delightful way!

Party anyone?