The holidays are a festive time of year filled with family, friends, parties and foods that can derail your diet. You can try to practice restraint, but it’s hard to say no to cookies or your mother’s lasagna. Thankfully, with a little planning, you can enjoy the holidays and stick to your diet.

Start your day with exercise

Can’t find time to hit the gym for a full session or hour-long class? Start your day with at least 10 – 20 minutes of exercise. Then, add a few more short bursts of exercise throughout the day. Sneaking in fitness with your daily routine, such as parking further away from the mall or taking a walk at lunchtime, will help keep your waistline in check.

Plan your meals

Start your day off right with a healthy breakfast to prevent unwanted cravings throughout the day. If you stick to your diet when you’re at home, you can justify a treat or two when you’re out at a party. Our Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale can help you accurately measure servings to ensure that you eat the right portion sizes.

Make healthy choices

Load up on the veggie tray and healthy proteins, such as chicken skewers or shrimp cocktail at a holiday party. Make splurges the exception rather than the rule. When you’re shopping, avoid temptations in the food court and choose lean proteins and green salads instead.

Drink water

Drinking at least 8 cups of water every day can prevent dehydration and even help curb hunger cravings. It’s also a good idea to have a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume. Additionally, a glass of water between alcoholic drinks will prevent tomorrow’s hangover.

Snack smart

The stress of holiday shopping and dealing with crowds at the mall can lead to impulsive food choices. Keep a healthy snack, like a low sugar energy bar or an apple, on hand to stop yourself from grabbing junk food.

Mingle at parties

Focus on your friends, family, and the experience when socializing rather than the food table. Holding a glass of sparkling water and chatting will keep you busy, plus you’ll have more fun.

Skip the eggnog

Eggnog, punches and mixers pack on a lot of extra empty calories. If you have a drink, stick to wine, beer or a mixed drink with seltzer and a splash of juice.

Enjoy dessert, in moderation

It may seem counterintuitive, but passing up your favorite holiday goodies can lead to binge eating later on. Enjoy a cookie or a few bites of cake to satisfy your craving.

Keep yourself accountable

Regular weigh-ins will keep you focused on your health. Our Precision Tracker Digital Bathroom Scale keeps track of three data points: your original weight, your last weigh-in, and your current weight. It’s a great motivational tool to see how well you are doing throughout the holiday season.

Get some rest

People who are sleep deprived tend to seek out comfort foods and skip workouts. If you’re well rested, it will be easier to eat smart and find the energy to exercise. The holidays are full of temptations. However, with the right plan, you can stick with your diet and maintain your fitness during the holiday season. Do you have diet tips for the holiday season? Tweet them to us @eatsmartscales.