I second cooking/baking things you aren't fond of. I really hate raisins & walnuts so if I have to bake I try to make things with those items in them. Keep a bottle/glass of water or cup of tea/coffee nearby when you're cooking. Take a drink when you're tempted to sample.
If going through a buffet, take a salad plate or dessert plate instead of a dinner plate, if possible. Eyeball the amount you WANT to put on your plate then deliberately take only half that amount. Then stay as far away from the buffet as possible. Keep busy, assist the hostess. If it's a sit-down meal, eat only half of the 'fattening' foods, but extra on the salad and veg. Drink lots of water, eat slowly.
Weigh yourself in the morning. Whether you've lost or gained, use that number to help you curb eating.
Eat something healthy before you go to a party with a buffet, a salad or small bowl of plain porridge. Don't arrive hungry.
As far as eating breakfast, that's individual. For me, I can skip it with no problem. A friend gets light-headed, starving, and very cranky! She finds it better to eat a little something.
This year, we've made the decision to not keep 'crap' around the house like we usually do (and then tell ourselves it's for 'guests'-HA). No dishes heaped with candy or nuts. No cakes or biscuits. We're limiting our eating to Christmas Dinner.
Remind yourself that the second helping of whatever won't taste any different or any better than the first helping you've already had, so why bother?
Above all, do congratulate yourself for controlling your eating even if it's just saying 'no' to a second biscuit, but do NOT blame or criticize yourself for overeating.
This time of year is really hard for those of us trying to lose or just maintain our weight. But cheer up, it'll all be over in 2 weeks. Yikes!