How to Avoid Gaining Weight Over the Festive Season, According to These Dietitians

One way to start your day on a healthy, positive note is by eating a large nutritious breakfast. It may sound counter-intuitive if you're planning on having a big meal later, but filling up on something healthy will prevent you from over-indulging later on in the day. Registered dietitian Kimberly Gomer, MS, LDN, director of nutrition at the Pritikin Longevity Centre and Spa, recommends starting with an egg white omelette full of veggies and whole-grain cereal.

Your schedule may get filled up with festive parties or you're too focussed on spending quality time with family to fit in fitness. But if you make time for exercise, especially early in the morning, it will leave you feeling energised and ready to take on the rest of the day. Those endorphins from exercise also help combat the feelings of sluggishness after over-indulging.

Monica Auslander Morena, MS, RD, LD/N, nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition, recommends scheduling a workout class in the middle of your busy schedule to make sure you stick to it. If you pick a boutique fitness class, for example, odds are you have to pay ahead of time which means you're more likely to stick to it.

In the same vein of eating a hearty breakfast the morning of a big holiday meal, don't show up to a Christmas party or dinner feeling famished. This will make you more likely to over-indulge in empty calories, which will make you feel sluggish and could lead to weight gain.

Katie Goldberg, MCN, RDN, LDN, said many people make the mistake of thinking they have to "save up" their calories for the big event, which leads to them making poor choices. Instead, it's important to listen to your body's hunger cues to know when to eat and when to stop.

The best way to ensure the Christmas party you're attending will serve something healthy is to bring it yourself. Ask the host if he or she would like any additional dishes and whip up a lighter version of traditional holiday fare.

It may be tempting to load up on all your favourite high-calorie foods: stuffing, mashed potatoes, pigs in blankets, and lots of gravy. Instead, Kimberly suggests filling half your plate with veggies first, then one quarter with white turkey meat and one quarter with a starch.

There are plenty of triggers around the holidays and may lead you down a slippery slope of unhealthy decisions. If alcohol leads you to make poor decisions, try saving your glass of wine to enjoy with dinner or cutting yourself off after two drinks. If dessert is your trigger, make sure you enjoy it but stick to one serving size. If you know you can't limit yourself to just one piece of pie or one cookie, it may be best to cut a piece for yourself and take it to go to enjoy at home.

This doesn't mean the holidays should be a free-for-all; make sure you are eating the foods you genuinely enjoy but just sticking to those select few.

"I encourage clients to pass up the foods they don't love that might be indulgent," Katie told POPSUGAR. "Don't eat to be polite, eat because you love the food. Anything else isn't worth your time."

Since you will be indulging in foods you don't typically eat the other 11 months out of the year, make sure you enjoy it. Take the time to eat slowly and savour every bite. Not only will this make the experience more satisfying, but it will also prevent you from eating too fast, which could cause you to overeat. Kimberly encourages people to put their fork down in between each bite.

With caloric cocktails, giant meals, and treats at every turn, it may seem like the Christmas holidays are all about the food. In reality, there is so much more to celebrate: quality time with friends and family and cherishing traditions. Katie said it's important this time of year to find the simple pleasures in life that don't revolve around food.