by Jed Eane

Created on: September 16, 2010   Last Updated: October 15, 2010

It’s easy to forget about your diet or healthy-eating plan when the holiday season rolls around. Attending parties and engaging in the festivities gives you the perfect excuse to indulge in all your favorite treats. And what’s more, there’s usually an abundance of goodies wherever you turn. Not only do generous hosts encourage you to nibble on treats, but when it’s your turn to entertain, you do exactly the same – and join in with them! But when the holidays end – and they always do – the damage done can take a long time to rectify. It can be difficult getting back on track if you’ve completely abandoned your weight-loss diet during the holidays. When you see evidence of the damage done – your favorite pants feeling that bit snugger, for example – you’re left feeling depressed and with little motivation to resume your good intentions. And this mindset can have serious consequences on the success of a diet or the ability to permanently adopt healthy eating habits. That's why it's important to know how to keep holiday treats under control without missing out on any of the holiday fun.

First, whatever’s planned for the day, make sure you start it off with a good breakfast. According to a study in the European Journal of Neuroscience, skipping breakfast increases the appeal of high-calorie foods. Therefore, have a healthy, nutritional breakfast to set you up for the day. This will ensure that you’re not tempted to snack before lunch. It will also put you in the right frame of mind: Start the day off in the way you intend to carry on – eating healthily. This also means sticking to your exercise schedule. It may be difficult to fit your work-out in around all the invitations you receive, but doing so will mean that your body’s better able to deal with what’s thrown at it during the holidays, e.g., late nights, excess alcohol, and general merry-making! And once the holiday season’s over, you’ll be pleased that you did.

When attending parties where food’s on offer buffet-style, know which foods are the least damaging. Steer clear of anything that’s wrapped in pastry or deep-fried (if it looks crispy then it’s probably been deep-fried and shouldn’t find its way to your plate). Opt instead for the brightly colored foods, which are generally the vegetables and fruit, and those foods that look as though they’ve had the least

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