How can you get through the holiday season without gaining a few pounds? Here are a few tips to keep the pounds off but still enjoy the holidays.

It’s very easy to overeat at Christmas because there are a lot of foods that we don’t get to eat very often. Some foods we may only get once a year around this time. It’s hard to pass up the opportunity to eat these tasty foods, so start with a plan.

• Set your limits before you start and stick with them. You could decide to hav
  
  only one plate of dinner, so you can enjoy dessert. Or maybe you’d rather skip the appetizer so you can have two helpings of turkey. Whatever you decide at the beginning of your meals or even at the beginning of your holidays, try not to stray from the original plan.
• Wine, beer and eggnog mixed drinks contain a lot of unnecessary calories. It’s nice to enjoy a drink with friends and family but best to be smart about things. If you’re out for a meal have a drink before and one with dinner but don’t over do it. If you’re just out for drinks with friends, slow down and have a glass of water between each drink. You’ll stay hydrated and will consume fewer calories. Drinking water will also ensure you feel fine the next morning.
• Eat slowly so you know when you’re getting full and stop eating when you’ve had enough. Make sure you eat plenty of vegetables with your dinner instead of filling up on carbohydrates and protein. The vegetables will ensure you still getting the vitamins you need to stay healthy over the holidays. Avoid covering your plate in rich gravy which is high in fat.
• You don’t have to diet over Christmas to avoid gaining weight. Keep up your exercise routine as much as you can to burn the extra calories. You can also introduce other activities to keep you moving over the holidays like ice skating or snowshoeing.
• Avoid snacking between meals and put away treats when guests are not around. Out of sight, out of mind will help you avoid temptation.
• Keep calm and stress free by making lists. Lists for anything from shopping for gifts to menus for when guests are coming will help you stay organized and avoid stress which can trigger over eating.
• When entertaining friends or family try new healthy recipes instead of the usual rich, fatty meal. Bake whole grain cookies with health nuts and search online for other healthy dessert and snack recipes. Try and bake or make as much as you can yourself so you and your family consume fewer processed foods.
• When planning your party schedule or nights out space them out so you’re not over indulging on back to back days. Eat small, healthy meals on days in between. Don’t be afraid to say no. You don’t have to go to every party and you certainly don’t have t eat everything on offer. Pick which foods are your favourites and have those but avoid everything else.

The holidays are a time to enjoy with family and friends and you should have to worry about keeping a diet to avoid gaining weight. By following some of these easy steps you’ll be able to still eat what you enjoy, party with family and friends but not be afraid of the scale come January.