By Mindi Matthews, CHWC, and Kristin Lamb, CHWC
It’s that time of year when extra calories lurk around every corner—frosted cookies at the office, eggnog at your neighbor’s house or chocolates in your Christmas stocking. All 
these extras add up, and if you’re like most Americans, you’ll put on a pound or two by New Year’s Day. Follow these tips to avoid holiday weight gain:
- Never arrive hungry to a holiday party—try to have a nutritious snack beforehand. If you do arrive hungry, drink some water to fill up before filling your plate.
- Pace yourself—Munch or eat at a leisurely pace. Putting your fork down between each bite can help.
- Be choosy about sweets—Be selective and try to limit yourself to small portions only. When preparing a dessert, pre-cut items into sample sizes so you can try multiple items without doubling or tripling the calories.
- Bring your own treats—Bringing your own dessert will make the more fattening alternatives less tempting.
- Keep calories in mind while cooking—Instead of tasting mindlessly every few minutes, limit yourself to two small bites of each item pre- and post-seasoning.
- Stop to examine your plate—Go ahead and pick your favorite dishes first, then evaluate what your plate looks like. If you primarily have carbohydrates, consider skipping other similar foods. Providing smaller plates for dinner is a great way to help everyone keep portions under control.
- Consider substituting ingredients—This is a great way to lower your calories, and you probably won’t even notice the difference in taste.
Making simple changes such as those listed above will benefit everyone and create healthier traditions in the future.