The holiday season is a great time to get together with friends and family and enjoy good food and drink together. However the downside of this is that it is not that hard to gain a few extra pounds with all the temptations around you. The effort you have put into your exercise and diet plan and the discipline you have had all year can easily disappear during the Christmas celebrations.

Luckily, there are ways to stop weight gain during the end of year celebrations….

Here are 3 healthy eating and diet tips for the holidays:

1. Do some exercise

This time of the year becomes increasingly busy with things to do, shopping for presents, parties, end of year work gatherings as well as family demands and the list goes on.

It is important during this crazy time to keep up with your normal exercise routine in some form or another. It will ensure that you stay on track with your long-term weight loss goals. It is so easy to stop exercising with the idea of picking it up after the holiday season is over, and while that may be the intention often it does not happen.

Whether it is in the form of walking, swimming, or cycling you need to ensure that you continue to exercise. You can catch up with a friend or family member by going for a walk with them. You get to chat and catch up with each other, and by doing so you are walking for fitness.

2. Control the portion sizes

This time of the year the food just keeps coming, with the buffets and all the goodies! It’s fine to enjoy all the deserts, delicious food and the treats that go with the season but you need to try and keep and check on your portion sizes.

Smaller portions means that you can still enjoy all the great food and control the amount of calories you are consuming.

Celebrations where you are asked to bring your own food to be eaten by everybody is easier to control, because you can bring things that have lower calories. Plates of fruit, deserts with lower calories are still enjoyable to eat, and are easier on the waist (I know this is not what you want to hear ). Try eating a small snack before large celebrations so that you wont feel the need to overindulge.

3. Limit your alcohol intake

Remember that alcohol drinks have large amounts of calories which, if consumed along with high calories snacks is a disaster just waiting to happen.

No one says that you cannot indulge, just be aware that the more you drink the less chance you will stay with your healthy eating plan. Limit your intake to 1 to 2 per session.

Try to stay on track with your eating and avoid the temptation to get take-out, keep and eye on your portion sizes, and ensure that you still keep up with the exercise. It will make the time with family and friends more enjoyable, and will make the task of doing exercise again after the holiday season that much easier.

Here’s to a great holiday season for you and your family!