The holiday season is a time for spreading good cheer and celebrating beloved traditions with family and friends. It is also a time that brings many opportunities for eating and drinking. A holiday banquet laden with favorite family dishes is a minefield even the most disciplined struggle to navigate. With temptation lurking in every dish, it is important to have several strategies for healthy holiday eating.  Here are some of our recommendations:

1. Set your Holiday Table for Success! While some sinfully delicious Holiday treats cannot be avoided, there are plenty for dishes you can cook in a healthier way. Take it easy on the gravy, salt, butter, cream sauces and whipped cream. Serve healthier side dishes like steamed vegetables, collard greens and roasted sweet potatoes sans all the unnecessary holiday sabotage of butter and marshmallows. Keep your cranberries healthy, use a natural sweetener like Stevia instead of dousing it in coma-inducing sugar. As for the stuffing, not to mess with your Momma’s recipe but make a healthier version packed with dried fruits, nuts, carrots and celery. Make sure there are plenty of healthy and tasty options for everyone to enjoy.

1. Go for healthier options first. Take a quick survey of the Holiday feast and reach for the best-for-you dishes first. Go for broth based soups and salads first, take bigger portions vegetables, grains and beans before going for the heavier fare. Indulge on fruits and no, that does not include the butter-laden apple crumb pie. The key is eating the right portions not depriving yourself.

1. Stay away from the drinks & munchies. Holiday tables are full of them. Small, innocent looking squares of brownies, toffees and butter cookies. Take a bite or two so as to not deprive yourself, but if you find yourself staying in front of the dessert buffet for more than a few minutes, it’s time to move on. Watch what you drink. Alcoholic drinks are loaded with calories so alternate it with equal amounts of water to keep you hydrated and less intoxicated.

1. Don’t go to a party hungry. It may seem a little silly to eat before going to a party but it is an effective strategy to avoid Holiday over-eating. Having a light snack like a piece of fruit or a granola bar can spell the difference between enjoying the holiday delicacies and going on a full-on binge fest.

1. Regular physical activity helps to partially offset all the calories you gain from Holiday eating. Exercise also give you more energy, relieves holiday stress and prevents further weight gain. If you’re not much of a work-out person, incorporate physical activities into your day like taking a walk instead of riding a cab or using the stairs instead of the elevator.

Remember to cook healthier versions of your favorite dishes, attack the holiday feast with care, put in moderate amounts of exercise and you just might survive the Holidays unscathed. Happy Holidays!