The holidays are a wonderfully exciting, chaotic time of year. There seems to be an endless number of family get-togethers, work Christmas parties and friend gatherings. Of course at each of these celebrations the food and drink options are all endless. Whether it’s a full turkey dinner with apps before and dessert after or a friendly get together with countless finger foods, it can be hard to resist. Here are some quick tips for holiday eating in hopes of avoiding adding a few pounds to your midsection!

Wait 10 minutes before helping yourself to a second plate. Just because the first course tasted so yummy doesn’t mean your stomach wants seconds. Wait 10 minutes and see if you still feel hungry for a second helping. You can always take home leftovers!

Put your dancing shoes on or do an outdoor winter activity. Tear up the dance floor, go skiing or skating, take the family tobogganing or enjoy a winter walk to help burn some extra calories.

Don’t stand next to the food table. During parties station yourself away from the food table. This will stop you from grabbing those few extra bites while you’re mingling, which you may not even notice you’re doing!

Choose or offer healthier choices. If you’re hosting or bringing a dish to a party, bring a veggie dish or serve a calorie wise dessert. Help others make healthy choices too.

Mix in a few high quality H20's! When consuming alcohol try to mix in a water between each drink. Not only will you stay more hydrated and consume less calories but your body will surely thank you in the morning!

Last but not least... Enjoy your food! Don’t skip your favourite foods just because they are high in calories or unhealthy, just help yourself to a smaller portion!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!