Q & A : Waistline Watchers

Since you are often at lavish parties with rich food, how do you maneuver your way around a meal and still fit into your evening clothes?

Sandra Ausman , chief of protocol for Los Angeles County:

“A really good method I use is, I’ll have a salad, and then for dinner I’ll eat all the carbohydrates first; the potato and the vegetable. And then if I’m still hungry, I’ll go into whatever is left on the plate. I try not to eat dessert, and I drink lots of water. It’s a simple method, but if you follow that, you’ll do really well.”

Kim McGuire , actress:

“I always eat before . . . and then I just hang out and watch people. I guess I’m just a buffet voyeur.”

Paige Rense , editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest magazine:

“I have one trick, and that is that I eat something before I go, and then you can sort of mush the food around and nobody particularly notices. You can eat a little salad, and a couple of bites of this and that. But if you go there and you’re really hungry, you’re cooked, just like the goose you’re likely to be served.”

Fred McLane , partner, O’Melveny & Myers:

“I go to the parties and receptions principally to enjoy the people. I try to limit myself to one drink and stay away from the hors d’oeuvres, the rolls and the desserts.”

Mario Tamayo , restaurateur, Atlas Bar & Grill:

“It’s really very simple. I just eat before I leave the restaurant.”

Andrea Van de Kamp , vice president and managing director of West Coast operations for Sotheby’s:

“I take a taste of everything, but I rarely finish a meal, and I generally stay away from desserts. That way you’re not totally denying yourself, and you’re part of the party, because very often food is a part of the experience. How do I handle a buffet? Very carefully. I actually dread buffets because they all look so wonderful. I go heavy on the salad and take tastes of other things.”