Occasions / December survival
Keto at the office holiday party
Holiday parties stack up in December: the office party, the neighbors, the friends’ open house. Each one is a buffet, a bar and a cookie tray. A simple routine handles all of them.
The game plan
- Eat a real keto meal before you go so you are not arriving hungry.
- Get a drink in hand early, so you are not handed something sweet.
- Make one pass at the buffet: carving station, shrimp, cheese, vegetables.
- Stand away from the dessert table while you talk.
- Leave a little earlier than the sugar comes out, if that helps.
Go for
- Carving station beef or turkey
Skip the rolls and sweet glazes. - Shrimp cocktail
Lemon instead of most of the sauce. - Cheese board and charcuterie
Skip crackers and fig jam. - Crudités with dip
Vegetables, not chips. - Deviled eggs and meatballs
A few meatballs is fine; avoid sweet-glazed ones.
Pass on
- Eggnog and spiked cider
Very high in sugar. - Cookie trays and fudge
Have a coffee instead. - Puff pastry bites and sliders
Flour wrappers. - Punch and mulled wine
Juice and sugar.
What to say
“I’m good with my drink, thanks.”
“They look incredible. I’m sticking with savory tonight.”
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Quick answers
What should I drink at a holiday party on keto?
Brut or extra brut sparkling wine, a dry martini, or a spirit with soda and lime. Eggnog, cider, punch and mulled wine are all high in sugar.
General guidance, not medical advice. See our health disclaimer.
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