5 Tips to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays

With the holidays upon us there are plenty of temptations and opportunities to overeat. Before you derail your diet and exercise routine and reverse the progress you've made, follow these tips to avoid overeating during the holidays.

1. Eat a snack before you go to the party. This will help you not to eat so much and to not have that first drink on an empty stomach.

2. Watch Drinking your Calories. For instance--Eggnog may be a holiday favorite but one tasty cup contains about 257 calories and 14 grams of fat -- and that's not including the distilled spirits. Instead of throwing away calories on a cocktail, enjoy a sparkling glass of champagne, which weighs in at a more reasonable 100 calories.

3. Desserts will Surprise You. One slice of pecan pie has about 400 calories. That's more than your average candy bar. A lighter dessert option is pumpkin pie, which has 200 calories. Just be sure to limit yourself to one slice and skip the whipped topping and ice cream on the side.

4. Seconds & Thirds! Food is abundant. Watch for the party server coming around 2 or 3 times or reaching for the bowl of mashed potatoes the 2nd time. Also watch for the multi-dessert portions at parties.

5. During & Post Holiday Blues & Stress Eating. We all are under time constraints and emotional stress during the holidays. Watch eating when you are not hungry, at night and reaching for food that makes you "feel good."

At BodyByGeoff, nutrition assessments come with our personal training at no extra charge. We provide weekly weigh-ins, food logs & reports, personal maintenance calorie levels as well as a personal recommended diet. We also Diet-to-Go meal plans. Book an appointment with our registered Dietitian, Susan Moore for more in-depth help and Chef Sandy for meal planning.