Not matter how good it is - enough is enough - knowing when to stop. This is a pre-holiday season warning to all of you out there who are gearing up for the fall and winter holiday seasons. Many a diet that has been going well all year has been ruined by this season. The reasons are:

- There is a lot of good food around.

- There are a lot of other eating people around you

- Baked good exist in high quantity

- Candy is given as a gift

- Holiday foods are not made with dieting in mind

- You are likely to be tired

- You are likely to be stressed out

- There will be high calorie drinks everywhere

So how do these factors play against you? Well when bad choices are everywhere around you it can be hard to make the right choices without feeling deprived, this is made even harder when you watch your eternally slim cousin wolf down her third piece of pumpkin pie without a though in the world to the calories, curse her quick metabolism and rock hard abs. Next up stress and lack of energy will give you a one two punch. You will be tempted to drive through, or order in your high fat favorites, just because going to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator door, scouting things out, getting out the food and actually making yourself a salad and turkey sandwich sounds like too much work. Next, you will have to deal with the social pressure, everyone else will be eating, and you don’t want to offend you hosts by ignoring their foods. Also, people are likely to give you a food-based gift. Its almost seems impossible to get over all of that doesn’t it?

No, fear. Don’t listen to diet Guru’s* who tell you to avoid holiday foods altogether. Just eat in moderation and enjoy something healthy in a larger portion. If you know you are going to an event with no healthy food, have a salad first, then go ahead and take small portions of what you want to eat. You can enjoy your food without having to feel starved, which will stop you from overeating. If you are the host, be sure to have health alternatives for your guests to enjoy, and let them know that’s foods are good for them. You can find recipes on my hubs for just about any junk food made “better for you than it was before”, as no junk food will be 100 percent good for you.

* A note, your doctor is not a diet guru. If she or he has made a recommendation that you should avoid, like sugar, salt, cholesterol, fat, gluten or anything else then listen to that sage advice. If you believe you cannot control yourself this holiday season then enlist the help of a trusted friend or family member who will be at events with you, and can re-direct you to more healthy choices. Also, speak with your doctor or a registered dietitian about alternate food choices.