The winter holidays are my favorite time of the year. November and December are the time when Houstonians remember why we live here with a perfectly mild start to winter. The boots, leggings, and oversized sweaters come out, and the stomach-warming foods go in the oven.

Holiday parties are full of sips, bites and glamour, and the food is planned out days ahead. Hanukkah and Christmas dinners are loaded with diet-busting delicacies. The danger of overeating and packing on an extra five pounds lurks around every overstuffed table.

To avoid turning into a turkey after your holiday meals, here are a few tips to stay on track without sacrificing that indulgent feeling.

1. Don’t skip breakfast

Eat a normal breakfast like cereal with yogurt, toast with fruit, or oatmeal. To tell yourself that you’re saving room will result in a mindset of “I haven’t eaten anything today, so I can demolish this whole plate … twice.” You will get a faster bellyache by eating a feast on an empty stomach.

2. Exercise the day of a party or holiday

Taking a day off is nice. But it’s better to get your blood flowing, burn some calories, and try to work up an appetite for your feast. You could even just walk through the mall to get in some window shopping and increase your heart rate. A few laps of dodging shoppers and cars is a good workout. Get your family involved for a walk, do a local Jingle Jog or play flag football. Every family has traditions, start an active one with yours.

3. If it's a pot luck holiday meal, bring a signature dish

Contributing to the meal is fun and gives you ownership of something. Foods taste better knowing you worked hard to create a dish from scratch.

Since you know what went into your dish, choose healthy alternatives. Maybe make it vegetable based, like a lightened up new twist on green beans without the creamy, cheesy part. Make stuffing using wild rice, hearty mushrooms or whole wheat bread. Bake butternut or acorn squash,or carrots and parsnips for a colorful and seasonal side dish.

Try adding dried cranberries, feta cheese and wilted spinach to your vegetable dish for more color and flavor. It even plays on red and green colors.

If you are making a dessert, use egg whites to make a fluffy cake instead of a dense one. For even more added flare, include the recipe on a thank you card to your host.

4. Treat your plate like a normal meal

It should have protein, vegetables, and a starch/carbohydrate. Don’t overload on three casseroles. If you go back for seconds (or thirds), try to eat more of the vegetable dishes and lean protein and less of the heavy ones. Remember there will be leftovers. You can have it again the next day for lunch. Also, beware of added calories from alcohol and appetizers. Save room for what you’ve been waiting for all year.

5. Choose one dessert (or maybe two) and savor them

Skip the ice cream or cookies and enjoy the pumpkin or pecan pie. You can have ice cream any day of the year. If you must try something else, save it for the next day. Have you tried pureed pumpkin or peppermint in your breakfast? It keeps the sweetness going far beyond the holiday in a lighter way.

Remember that the holidays are about family. Take some time to talk with people you don’t see too often. Play games with the little kids instead of hovering around the buffet table. Take pictures, watch football, dress up like a Pilgrim (my grandmother does) or Santa Claus.

It’s all right to eat your favorites, and with good planning of contributing dishes and wise choices when building your plate, you won’t need to discretely unbutton your pants or take an afternoon nap.

Marci Gilbert writes a daily food and fitness blog at www.marcigilbert.com.