There’s no question: the holidays are very deeply associated with overeating in our culture. And while it’s ok to enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals with your friends and family, your Lawrenceville doctors at Rodriguez MD don’t want you to gain too much weight over the upcoming holidays. With that in mind, here are some easy ways to avoid overeating and the resulting weight gain this holiday season.

Don’t Go to Parties Hungry

Holiday parties always have great spreads of foods and sweets. To avoid eating too much of the bad stuff, you should fill up on healthy food beforehand. Eat a nutritious meal or snack before you leave the house to discourage the need to nosh.

Limit Your Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol has an incredibly high calorie count, but that’s not the whole reason why you should limit your consumption during the holidays. As you drink, you begin to lose your control over your overall consumption, both of alcohol and food. After a few drinks, you may find yourself eating extra cookies or another serving of stuffing. Here at your Lawrenceville family health center, we recommend that you drink water or club soda at parties to avoid extra calories and decreased self-control.

Be Choosy About Sweets

Be selective about the sweets you eat throughout the holiday season. Instead of sampling one of each sweet at Thanksgiving, just stick to your favorite. Likewise, don’t feel obligated to eat all of the cookies that friends and neighbors give you. Keep a few of your favorites to last you through the season, and take the rest into your office or to your kids’ daycare.

Control Portions

The Gwinnett doctors here at Rodriguez MD know that controlling your portions can be difficult, especially during the holidays. However, there are a few ways to make it a little easier. If your family eats buffet style, use a smaller plate to help yourself eat less. Avoid taking seconds, even if Grandma insists. At parties, keep toothpicks and wrappers where you can see them to know how many appetizers you’ve eaten.