The Friday Night Diet

Pizza.  Beer.  Wings.  Potato Skins.

Friday night indulgences can derail any diet.  A recent MSNBC.com article offered some advice to help you navigate through Friday night without consuming too many calories.  Here are a few more tips so you stay on the diet train this weekend:

•    Look for low-cal substitutes.  Instead of having a meat-lovers pizza with a thick crust, opt for the thin crust pizza that's loaded with veggies (and ask for "light" cheese).
•    Exercise portion control. It's fine to enjoy a beer or glass of wine during Happy Hour.  Just limit yourself to one or two drinks, because those liquid calories add up quickly!  To stay in control of portions, drink a big glass of water between every alcoholic beverage.
•    Split treats with a friend.  If you must indulge in dessert after dinner, share it with someone else.  Just a few bites of chocolate cake are often just as satisfying as a whole piece.
•    Indulge once a day. If you know you're headed for a party on Saturday night, try to eat a healthy diet for breakfast and dinner.  Keep portions sensible, and choose lean, healthful foods.  But don't starve yourself!   If you cut too many calories during the day, your hunger may lead you to overindulge at the party.
•    Find time for exercise. Take the kids to the park or visit your local hiking trails.  Weekends are a great time to enjoy a physical activity with the whole family.