Maintaining nutritious eating and a healthy lifestyle during the holidays can be quite a challenge for anyone.
There are usually many parties and other social gatherings from work, family and friends.
No one wants to miss these special occasions, so it is important to decide ahead of time how to best handle the temptations of eating, drinking and staying up later at night than we are accustomed to.
Here are some ways to help you stay on course during this year's holiday season.

• Get enough rest during this time.
  Take a nap for even a half an hour before you go out, if you possibly can.
  Getting enough sleep will help you to eat less and exercise more.
  Sleep later on the weekends as well.
  
• Think about what you will do before you arrive at a social gathering.
  Eat something light, such as fruit or yogurt, before you leave to go to the event so that you are not starving when you arrive.
  
• Be aware of what you are putting on your plate if you are served buffet style.
  Take a small amount of everything you like so you will not feel deprived.
  Don't pile the food onto your plate because you will not really taste your favorite foods and you will end up overeating.
  
• Walk as often as you can.
  If you will be at someone else's home for an extended period of time, excuse yourself and go for a walk.
  There may be someone else who will want to join you, or you can offer to walk the family's dog.
  

By focusing on what you intend to do during the holidays you will be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Decide in advance how much you will eat and drink and which foods you intend to avoid.
Then stick to this decision at all time.
The small successes you achieve every day will make you feel better after the first of the year when you find that you have not put on weight.