With a little planning, the holidays can be a healthy time of year, both mentally and physically. Start by planning ahead for events that you are hosting, and be sure to offer some healthier foods (e.g., vegetables without butter or cream can be seasoned with pepper and lemon). Take the time to plan a healthy meal or snack before attending a holiday party so that you do not arrive hungry (eat a small salad with low-fat dressing or have a sandwich with lots of vegetable toppings, e.g., sprouts, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes).
The best approach to preventing “holiday weight gain” is to focus on maintaining your weight by planning your exercise around your holiday events and participating in your regular physical activity routine.
Read the entire article including recipes for a festive holiday salad and banana bread pudding at http://www.ncpad.org/321/1946/Healthy~Holidays~-~Is~It~Possible~.