Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas cookies, and New Year’s Eve cocktails — with delicious temptation all around, sticking to your nutrition rules can be tough during the holidays. Luckily, there are ways to enjoy the festive feasts of the season without ruining your waistline. These holiday diet tips will help get you through the holiday season without packing on pounds.

5 Nutrition Tips For The Holidays

1. Focus On Healthy Treats

When dinner is served or the hors d’oeuvre tray is passed around, turn to the healthier bites before everything else. See a salad or green beans on the table? Start there. Filling up on the more nutrition-friendly options will keep you from splurging on diet killers like dessert down the line.

2. Plan Ahead For Parties

If you’re going to a holiday party, eat beforehand — this will make it easier to bypass unhealthy snacks on-site. Don’t camp out at the snack table where tempting nibbles are just an arm’s reach away.

3. Save Alcohol & Sweets For Last

Imbibing in alcoholic drinks and sweet treats is one of the biggest downfalls of a holiday diet. If you can’t avoid these goodies altogether, try to save them for last. Stick to alcoholic drinks that are low in sugar. As for dessert, strive for moderation: You don’t need to finish off every pastry at the party.

4. Keep Track Of Yourself

Do your best to keep up your normal exercise routine over the holidays. It’s also a good idea to weigh yourself regularly: If you catch extra weight starting to creep on, you’ll be more likely to practice caution for the remainder of the holiday season.

5. Choose Your Indulgences Wisely

You don’t want to sit out the foodie fun of the holiday season entirely — you’ll only make yourself miserable and transform into the Grinch. Focus on foods that you absolutely love. You don’t have to sample every dessert at the dinner table, but you can certainly enjoy a slice of your favorite pie!

For more tips on nutrition, as well as general health and wellness, IMUA Orthopedics, Sports & Health can help. Offering wellness coaching alongside sports medicine and osteopathic services, these experts help residents of Honolulu, HI, live healthy and happy lives all year long. Visit their website or call (808) 521-8170 to find out how they can help. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.