Holidays are a time of activity, joy, family, friends, thanksgiving, celebration, and love. Spending time with your family and friends doesn’t have to be sitting around the dinner table. Try caroling, dancing, looking at neighborhood Christmas lights, and visiting those who are alone.

Allow yourself the pleasure of eating on the specific holiday; just don’t make everyday a holiday feast.

Before going to a party or dinner eat a small snack. Eating on an empty stomach can lead to the phenomenon of our eyes being bigger than our stomach causing us to go overboard at the holiday feast. Use the smallest plate available and avoid stacking your food. If you are still hungry 20 minutes after eating, go back for seconds.

Keep a food journal during the holidays. Writing down everything you eat gives you a check-and-balance system for calorie intake. Recent studies done at Kaiser’s Center for Health Research showed that those who kept a food journal lost more than twice as much weight as those who didn’t.

Make a grocery shopping list and buy the foods that you intend to eat. Avoid stocking up on treats thinking that you won’t be tempted to open them early.

Pack healthy snacks, then when you are out and about and hunger strikes, you will have something that is healthier and cheaper than stopping for fast food.

Plan alternative activities for when food cravings attack. Some alternate activities can include wrapping gifts, taking a brisk walk, shoveling snow, reading, visiting a neighbor, and many other things.

Include fitness and good nutrition into your holiday schedule ahead of time. Be realistic with your time demands. Remember that doing 15 minutes of exercise is better than none at all.