The holidays. The perfect time to shop ’til you drop and
eat ’til to pop.

But overindulgence, whether on food or drink, can turn your
holiday merriment to
misery.

“The holidays are just two days, not a whole month,” said Connie
Crawley, a food,
health and nutrition specialist with the University of Georgia
Extension Service. “Just
plan one or two splurge days, and don’t overeat over the whole
month.”

Family dinners and office parties make it hard to maintain your
regular eating habits.
Crawley offers these tips:

* Don’t go to a party hungry.

“You will eat high-fat, high-sugar foods because you’re
attracted to that kind of food
when you are hungry,” Crawley said. “Eat some fruit or drink a
glass of milk before
you go. It will help curb your hunger.”

* If it’s buffet, be a gourmet, not a glutton.

“Survey the table and choose foods that are really special and
that you will enjoy
eating,” Crawley said. “Don’t just eat everything in sight.”

* Don’t stand and eat.

“If you stand and eat, you never really feel full,” she
said. “Fix your plate, then move
away from the table and find a place to sit and eat. Also, eat
with utensils, rather than
just finger food. You will feel more satisfied.”

* Avoid too much alcohol.

“I caution people about downing more than one or two drinks,”
Crawley said. “It
lowers your judgement and you don’t realize how much you’re
eating. Plus, you get
the munchies, and the calories in alcohol drinks add up
quickly.”

Look for low-calorie sodas or seltzer instead.

* If you’re in charge of the party, have bags and wraps out
so you can wrap
leftovers and send them home with guests.

“If you have them around, you’ll be tempted to eat them just to
get rid of them,” she
said. “So send them away with guests. Or freeze them and bring
them out later in
portions or for another party.”

* Even the best-laid holiday diet plans can get sidetracked.
Don’t despair.

“Some people try to cut way back on their food after they
overeat,” Crawley said.
“That just sets you up for failure.”

* Don’t go from feast to famine or you will get so
ravenous you’ll just overeat again.

“It’s better to go back to your regular eating pattern. Then if
you want to cut back or
make better eating habits, make changes one at a time,” Crawley
said.

* Get active. A walk or swim will leave you feeling
invigorated and less stressed.

“This could be the beginning of your New Year’s resolution,” she
said. “In the long
run, you’ll be less stressed, more energized and more noble. You
don’t want to go into
the new year feeling miserable.”

* If drink, not food, was your overindulgence, rehydration is
the key.

“Get a lot of noncaloric fluids the next day,” Crawley
said. “It’s the dehydration that
makes you get a headache. Get plenty of fluids into your
system.”

Getting active will help clear your head, too.

“Remember to eat bland, calming foods and don’t do it again!”
Crawley said. “Make
that one of your resolutions.”

Drinking beer will leave you feeling bloated, but don’t be
fooled. You still need eight
glasses of fluid.

“Drinking water is preferable,” she said. “Avoid caffeine-
containing drinks. They will
just make your dehydration worse.”

This holiday season, eat, drink and be merry — in moderation.