Everyone loves this time of year, the decorations, the festivities, the spirit, the Christmas movies, the Christmas songs (my favourite part!) AND the food. But before you begin to dread this coming season in terms of what you may not be able to control, here are a few tips to help you plan ahead, be proactive while staying healthy and keeping up with your waistline during this Holiday Season.

Eat something small before going to a party – Think ahead. Before going to a party, fill up on healthy snacks, such as nuts, veggies dipped in hummus, or an apple dipped in almond butter. This way, you won’t arrive to the party starving, and likely splurge.

Wear form-fitting clothes – Don’t wear loose clothing. A belt or something form-fitting will work as a reminder and make you more aware of how full you really are while you’re eating.

Always start with vegetables – Make sure to always start with whatever vegetables are being served. This will help take the edge off your appetite.

If you don’t absolutely love it, don’t eat it – Many holiday dishes are filled with tons of calories, fat and sugar. Don’t eat it just because it’s there. Be selective. Make wise choices in terms of which foods you really want to eat, and which ones you can skip on.

Keep a balanced plate – Your main dish should be a plate with mostly raw/cooked/steamed/roasted colourful vegetables plus a portion of protein. Your dessert plate should emphasize on fruit. No need to stay away from your favourite foods or desserts, just make sure to take really small portions (I use the magic number 4, meaning 4 bites, and that’s it). And, eat slowly – this will help you savour the foods that you love much more.

Watch out for holiday drinks – Drinks like eggnog, hot chocolate and alcoholic beverages pack a lot of calories too. Drink lots of water. Water will fill you up and make you gravitate less towards these drinks. A great tip: If you are right-handed, always hold your drink in your right hand. This will make it more difficult to reach for food on impulse. Try it, it works!

Enjoy – This is by far the most important tip of all. Experience the festivities, the celebrations, the presence of loved ones and the gifts that surround this season. Remember:-

It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistletoe-ing and hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Happy Holidays!