The holiday season is a wonderful time of year—full of parties, dinners, and sweets. Most of us put on a little extra weight and then make New Year’s resolutions to exercise and/or diet. Research shows that eventually there is a return to our normal weight as we return to our normal eating and activity patterns. While this is comforting to know, I prefer to enjoy the holidays without the set back in my health.

Here are a few survival tips for the holidays to help you come out ahead on your New Year’s resolutions:

Use a smaller plate. Research shows that when we use bigger plates and bowls, we often eat more than we usually would. By using smaller plates or bowls, we trick our minds into thinking that we are eating larger portions and get full on less.

Eat a healthy, small meal before the dinner or party. A common holiday practice is to starve, and then gorge at the party. Not only does this screw up your metabolism, it increases your chance of overeating. Remember that the purpose of the event is to visit with family and friends and enjoy your time together, not to be distracted by the food. 

Just because someone gives you fruit cake doesn’t mean you have to eat it. Contact your local food bank about donating perishable items. Supermarkets frequently donate items to food banks just before it expires so it doesn’t go to waste.

Limit your alcohol intake to one drink. When you are trying to lose weight, you shouldn’t have alcohol at all. It is a quick way to load calories into your body in addition to the damage it can do to you liver and brain. Some research supports that a glass of red wine with dinner has some benefits, however, they are lost if consumption is greater than one glass. 

There are dozens more tips I can and will be sharing. I would love to hear about how you have learned to manage the holidays. Feel free to share your tips here.