1. Eat something beforehand. If you don't eat all day, you may arrive at a holiday meal and parties ravenous and lose control! Have a low-calorie snack like an apple, a whole- grain bagel, a small bowl of soup, or whole grain cereal.
2. Put 20% more fruits and veggies on your plate. Studies show that you probably won't notice the difference.
3. Eat the healthier foods first-they will fill you up.
4. Choose foods that leave evidence- eg., shrimp tails and chicken bones. Studies show that if you have cues to see how much you have eaten, you'll eat less.
5. Try not to eat more than two or three items on your plate at one time. We eat more when food is in front of us.
6. Eat more slowly. The faster we eat the more we eat. It takes up to 20 minutes after eating for the brain to realize that we're full. Sip water between bites.
7. If you have a choice use a smaller plate. The smaller the dish, the less you take and the less you eat.
8. If you're at someone's home, try to serve yourself instead of allowing your sister-in-law to heap your plate full.
9. Arrive a little late and make a grand entrance. More of the indulgent foods will be gone by then.
10. Substitute cranberry sauce for gravy, which is usually high in fat and calories. Cranberry sauce is nutritious and loaded with antioxidants.
11. If you eat baked potatoes and yams avoid toppings such as butter, cheese, bacon and sour cream.
12. Watch the alcohol, which is high in calories (almost 200 per ounce) and slows down metabolism.
13. Close your eyes and savor the food periodically during the meal. You'll consume fewer calories and experience more pleasure.
14. Have a few bites of dessert. The first and last bites are always the best, anyway.
15. Take a walk after dinner. You don't have to hike five miles. A stroll around the block is a good start. Walking not only burns calories, it also helps relieve bloating and prevent heartburn.
In his wonderful book Mindless Eating, food psychologist Brian Wansink describes how becoming more mindful of cues that affect our eating allows us to make different choices based on awareness rather than simply willpower.
http://mindlesseating.org
Wow the Holiday's are upon us. Where did the year go? I am so excited my daughter Sophia is coming home for Christmas. Can't wait to go shopping, visit friends and relatives and have everyone over! 
Want to be Healthier Slimmer Stonger Smarter and Sexier?