Though the holiday season isn’t the ideal time to start a diet, it’s the best time to put weight-friendly strategies into practice -- while still enjoying the best the season has to offer.

By: Jackie Newgent

Worried about packing on holiday pounds while partying? I rounded up tips from several of our nation’s top nutrition pros that’ll be sure to help keep you seasonally svelte.

Make a Plan in Advance

• Get a pre-party blowout. When you feel good about how you look, it makes it easier to stick with healthy options.
  Patricia Bannan, author of Eat Right When Time is Tight
• Snack before you go. Eat a satiating snack before you leave home -- like low-fat yogurt with almonds and dried fruit -- to prevent overindulging.
  Bonnie Taub-Dix, author of Read It Before You Eat It
  

• Be the designated driver. With cocktails ranging from 100 to 600 calories each, they can add up quickly. For a healthier, nonalcoholic drink, opt for peppermint tea or a low-fat latte with pumpkin pie spice.
  Michelle Dudash, founder of nutrition and culinary firm Chef Dudash Nutrition

Dress the Part

• Slip on Spanx. When fully expanded, your stomach can hold about 6 cups of food (think six baseballs), so an anti-expansion garment is a smart way to prevent filling up.
  Cynthia Sass has a master’s in public health and is the author of Cinch! Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds and Lose Inches

Tote This

• Carry a clutch. You’ll only have one hand free to eat or drink -- not both at the same time.
  Carolyn O’Neil, co-author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!
• Gloss up with a lip-plumper. You may be less tempted to overeat when you’re trying to keep your lips kissable and photo-ready.
  Lyssie Lakatos , co-author of The Secret to Skinny

Get Ready to Party

• Be a food-bore. Variety stimulates appetite, so choose only one or two of your favorites instead of sampling bites of everything.
  Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet
• Outsmart the buffet. Use a salad plate; studies have shown that people eat more when there is more food on their plate.Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of The F-factor Diet

• Mingle, mingle, mingle! More chatting means less time for munching.
  Keri M. Gans, author of The Small Change Diet

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