SURVIVE THE HOLIDAY PARTY SEASON!

Holiday parties are just around the corner! The holidays should be a time to celebrate, not a time to stress.

Planning your eating strategies in advance can help you avoid the stress of the dreaded holiday weight gain.

Here are seven tips to help you stay on track:

1. Never go to a party hungry! Before heading out the door, have a small, healthful snack that includes both protein and carbohydrate.

2. Drink water. Start the party with a glass of water or sparkling water. Continue to drink water throughout the night in order to cut down or cut out alcohol consumption.

3. Remove yourself from temptations. Don’t stand or sit near the buffet.

4. Eat the right finger foods. Choose healthful, low-calorie foods such as fresh veggies with light dip, deli meat slices (such as turkey roll-ups), reduced-fat cheese, whole wheat crackers, shrimp cocktail, and fruit and yogurt fondue (cut-up fruit pieces dipped in vanilla yogurt). Bring a platter of low-calorie appetizers to ensure that you will have something healthy to eat.

5. Move it! Don't get stuck sitting or standing in one place. Walk around as much as possible to burn a few extra calories. If people are dancing, get out on the dance floor!

6. Be social. Avoid overeating by talking to people at the party. Focus on meeting new people and catching up with old friends and you’ll forget there is so much food around.

7. Save calories for special occasions. If you know you will be attending several parties on the weekend, and you want to be able to indulge a bit, then "bank" some extra calories during the week to "spend" on the weekend. Here's how it works:

Cut back 200 calories each day Monday – Thursday to save 800 calories. Now you have 800 guilt-free calories that you can use on the weekend for treats or drinks. But be sure to keep track of those 800 calories as you spend them! You might be surprised by how fast they get used up. Don't allow yourself to spurge on everything just because you were "good" during the week.

Enjoy a fun, but healthful holiday season so that you can start 2011 feeling healthy, fit, strong and energized.