The fact is Christmas is filled with food. Throughout time food has brought families and friends together, food is a tradition. Food is glorious! Especially Holiday recipes they seem to hold many memories and foster a feeling of togetherness. The problem is we eat too much food during this Christmas season and then enter the New Year feeling bloated and disappointed which leads to making dramatic new years goals that are unattainable. To avoid this repetitious rollercoaster there are a few Do's and Don'ts that can help you enjoy what you eat and still remain comfortable without loosening your belt.

The Do's

• Eat! Just maintain balance, for instance if you have a function to attend in the evening and you know there will be lots of foods that you will enjoy eat smaller meals and snacks during the day.
• Always keep a glass of water close by. It has been scientifically proven that water fills you up. As you are eating this holiday season develop the habit to always drink water with your food this will fill you up and fuel your body with needed goodness.
• Help with preparing and organizing the functions. This will keep you busy burning calories with little time to over eat.
• Keep an eye on the how much you have eaten. It can be very easy to loose track of how many slices of cake you have consumed. Keeping a little note book handy is a great way to jot down what you have eaten and makes it easy to prevent over eating. This also puts you in control of what you are eating and that is empowering.
• Exercise. If you have over indulged get out and work your body shifting the extra weight before it becomes to overwhelming to shift. Exercising an hour or so before eating will increase your chance of listening to what your body needs without over eating.
• Listen to your body. If you feel full stop eating. If you chew gum or clean your teeth after feeling full you will be less likely to continue eating.
• Socialize. Focus on chatting rather than eating.

The Don'ts

• Avoid taking full servings. There probably will be numerous deserts available and you will probably want a taste of several. By taking several small portions or sharing a portion with someone else will avoid over indulging.
• Don't eat right before bed. It's best to avoid eating right before bed as your body will burn very few calories while sleeping.
• Don't stay around the food. Take your portion of food and move away from the food, preferably to a place where you can't stare at the food, thinking whether or not you should have more.
• Don't weigh yourself after you have eaten, it will only depress you and give you a false weight. Wait till the morning or after a bowel movement to weigh yourself.
• Don't snack all day long. Remember the importance of balanced nutritious meals.
• Avoid eating mostly one food group. When you are plating up a dinner at a buffet make sure you have a little of each food group.
• Don't just eat because you are offered food. Feel free to decline food, if you are worried about offending the host take some food home to eat at your connivance.