By Alea Fisher

‘Tis the season to eat unhealthy. Grandma makes her pumpkin pie. Children bake cookies for Santa. The office party serves eggnog. And multiple sticks of butter go into the sweet potato casserole. From the fourth Thursday of November until the first day of January, most people don’t stop over-indulging in the richest of holiday delights. Although this is common, it can cause problems that can put a damper on the holiday spirit, and on the years to come.
It is common for people to gain excess weight during the holidays. The problem is that those pounds come at the launch of a new year. People who gain weight during the holidays usually keep it on, and add even more throughout the upcoming year. It is easy to excuse yourself by thinking that it is the holidays, and overeating is tradition, just before deciding to take a second slice of cheesecake. But it is best to start a habit of practicing good dietary habits, and continue this throughout the holidays. Below are a few suggestions to keep spirits high and the extra pounds low during the holidays.

1. Don’t starve yourself. Eat a light, healthy snack before a meal. This prevents you from gorging yourself when all the party trays are set out.

2. Get in your daily dose of greens by eating a salad or fresh vegetables with your holiday dinner. This will prevent you from filling up on the more fattening foods, as well as aiding in digestion.

3. Drink a lot of water. This will also help you not to eat as much, and also aid in digestion.

4. Get a normal serving size of two or three of the things you want most in a meal. Only take a bite-sized portion of other items you want. It’s the holidays. Get a taste of the goodies that come around only once a year. Savor the bite, and leave it at that.

5. Cut your dessert slice in half.

6. Brush your teeth or eat a mint as soon as dinner is over, so that you’re not as easily inclined to nibble after a meal or during cleanup.

7. Plan ahead which dishes you will choose to eat at gatherings.

8. Exercise. Stay active during the holidays. Even when you’re out of town, take a walk with family or friends after a meal. Think of physical activities that are holiday-related, such as a football game in the yard with the cousins.