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Who doesn't love holiday food? Sweets, treats and rich foods are part of the fun of the season. Packing on pounds is not. There are ways to enjoy the treats without gaining weight.

Start by taking small bites. Chew slowly. (Your mother was right, after all.) The more slowly you eat, the longer you enjoy each bit of flavor. It's not about the amount of food you eat, but the amount you enjoy. More servings really don't equal more enjoyment.

Pay attention! Eating without thinking is an easy way to load up on calories. A little attention to what you're eating, and how much, pays off in big calorie savings. Slow down. Look at your plate. Notice how many times you've refilled your glass.

Use a small plate. We "eat with our eyes," and smaller dinnerware makes portions look larger.

Stay away from the buffet! You know the drill: the food is right there, you're talking a mile a minute, and treats are just jumping into your mouth. Give them some distance. Stand where the table isn't in your line of sight.

Snack before you celebrate. A sandwich, some soup, even a bowl of cereal and milk will fill you up a little before you encounter all those lovely treats. Going to a party hungry is like going to the grocery store hungry: everything looks good, a lot looks like a little, and you wind up regretting it afterwards.

Outside of party time, avoid land mines, like a pile of brownies in the break room at work or the candy dish at the bank teller's window.

At the grocery store, read labels. Sugar, sodium and fat are hidden in many foods, especially convenience foods. You don't have to decipher the whole nutrition label. Choose an area or two that you're concerned about, like sugar or fat. Keep the numbers low, and you've saved yourself a bunch of calories. Or look for fiber and vitamins and keep them high.

Drink plenty of liquids. You can enjoy your booze, caffeine and sugar if you balance them with water, light juices or noncarbonated beverages even soup helps. Staying hydrated not only encourages you eat less, it helps you stay healthy enough to go to all those holiday celebrations.

Sleep! When you're tired, nothing looks better than caffeine loaded with sugar.

Keep moving. Dance, have a snowball fight, walk the dog. She could probably do with burning a few calories, too, and she'll love you for it.

Take the stairs, but only in a well-lighted, safe place. Ditto for parking the car at the far end of the parking lot. Those little walks add up.

Smile. Better yet, laugh. Watch comedies, tickle the kids, make faces out the window.

Be there for yourself. Stay in the bathroom an extra five minutes. Stretch a little while waiting in line. Talk to a friend. What does this have to do with keeping weight off during the holidays? Stress tends to cause people to eat excessively. A little self-care goes a long way towards a happy, healthy holiday.

Learn more about this author, Melanie Lahman.
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