Lend a Helping Hand
My family always serves snacks to guests while the cook is finishing which leads to a lot of mindless munching. Volunteering to help gives the hosting family members a little time to breathe and it keeps me away from the chips and dip. There is always something left to do: Setting up the spare tables, putting out clean linen for guests, or making last-minute ingredient runs (You always forget something on that final grocery list.). Assistance in the more menial kitchen duties -- such as washing and peeling produce or measuring ingredients -- is appreciated (These jobs suit me perfectly while the resident Martha Stewart-wannabe can handle the fancier stuff.). And if I luck in to chopping veggies instead of slicing brownies, my will power isn’t even tested.Take a Breather
Some people can be surrounded by high-cal food all day and never be tempted to indulge -- the amazingly slim barista at my local coffee shop, for instance. But for the rest of us, having tasty food in view (and in smelling distance) spells dietary-disaster. If being around by too many high-calorie treats gets you in a panic on the big day, don’t sweat it out. Simply give yourself a well-deserved break: Go outside for a walk down your street, finally build that snowman, or take a short drive around the neighborhood to look at the community’s seasonal decorations. Trust me, your family will not take it personally if you need to take a quick breather; you will feel refreshed and better prepared for temptation upon your return.Make Like a Munchkin
Once upon a time, there was a little seating snafu and someone not so small ended up at what we lovingly refer to as "The Munchkin Table" in my family. So, the kids’ table had only one person over the age of 13 -- yours truly. And guess what? I had one of the best holidays I could remember! I later realized it was because the little ones were far more concerned with fun than food. Focus on family and fun during the celebration and food will take the back burner. Plan non-eating activities that everyone can do together, such as games that involve movement (e.g., tag football outside if it's mild; activity-based video games inside if it’s too cold) or a fun round of charades.Always Be Prepared
Depending on the cook, you can either feel confident that you’ll have a selection of healthy foods to choose from, or you can rest assured that everything on offer will be fried, covered in cheese, or cream-based. If, like me, your loved ones tend to offer up the latter, the best defense is to keep overeating at bay by toting a stash of smart snacks -- such as baby carrots, sliced celery stalks, and peanut butter on whole-grain crackers -- to munch during your visit. If you keep yourself from getting overly hungry, that high-fat fare will be a lot less tempting.Get your new year's weight loss efforts off to a great start by signing up for our free Weight Loss 101 e-Course.
