We all know the holidays are filled with opportunities to merrily eat festive baked goods while drinking down buckets of holiday cheer. It’s no surprise the scale tends to go up a few pounds after the holiday season is over. Here are a few tips to help you avoid weight gain during one of the highest calorie seasons of the year.

1. Don’t feel obliged to eat food offered to you by your party host, co-workers, family etc. It’s okay to say thanks, but no thanks. Definitely don’t feel you need to eat more than you would or take second helpings in order to make them feel good.
2. While at social gatherings, move away from the food tables, mingle and talk to other people!
3. Eat sensibly throughout the day when you know you have a large feast to attend. Don’t make the mistake of skipping meals, thinking you’ll “save those calories” for later. You’ll end up being hungry and eating even more than you would’ve if you’d eaten normally throughout the day.
4.  If you bake cookies (or other yummy things) for someone else as a gift, give them all the cookies! Don’t make a second batch for your own consumption or eat half of theirs.
5.  Don’t use the excuse, “I’ll go on a diet in January.” Not only is that usually not going to happen, it’s an unhealthy approach to allowing yourself to overeat.
6.  If you receive food gifts you know you shouldn’t eat, give them to the food bank.
7.  Allow yourself to enjoy the holidays. Don’t try and restrict yourself from everything and anything out there. That’s likely to lead to a blow up binge of eating an entire gingerbread house with a side of pie. Moderation is key.