"Twas the night before Christmas and hopefully you're armed with a plan for surviving the big day without a major diet derailment. By following a few helpful hints, you can be sure you'll stay on track and still enjoy the merriment. {relatedarticles}For many people, the Christmas holiday revolves around big meals with all of the fixings. If you don't follow some practical protocol, you could find yourself knee deep in a bad binge. Start the morning off with a balanced breakfast. Throughout the day, bypass the holiday cookies, cakes, pastries and pies. Save your calories for the actual meal. Offer to help wherever you can... except the kitchen. You don't want to run the risk of grazing on a bite here and there. Think about what you're going to eat at the Christmas meal. Allot for those calories and mentally prepare yourself for avoiding diet pitfalls such as breads, gravies, creamy casseroles.

When it is time to sit down with your family, think small. Opt for smaller portions of foods you really like. Make every bite count. {relatedarticles}Use a smaller plate if you need to. Allow yourself one round and don't go back for seconds. Instead of sampling every sweet treat, stick to a small portion of one lower calorie dessert with a bowl of fresh fruit. Just say no to leftovers. There's no reason to carry the fattening feast on for another day. Also, enjoy a post-meal walk or a friendly game of football. Do something to get moving. Following these smart tips is the best give you can give yourself this Christmas.