On the average, Americans gain five pounds per year during the holiday season and usually don’t lose it. Jenny Wages, RD/LD, dietitian with Methodist Healthcare, offers this advice for healthy eating and weight management during the holidays.

• Don't worry about getting through the "holiday season." Thoughts like that can be overwhelming. Take it a day at a time.
• If you do host a holiday meal or party, freeze leftovers--especially treats you find particularly tempting. Or send leftovers home with guests.
• When faced with temptation, plan to indulge--a little bit. With planning, you often can work your favorite holiday treat (reasonable portions, of course) into your meal plan. You won't feel deprived--a feeling that can lead to serious overeating.
• At parties, survey all the food choices before making your selections. Head for the low-fat, low-calorie choices such as raw vegetables, fruit or whole-grain breads and crackers.
• When you're invited to a party, offer to bring a dish that fits into your meal plan. This strategy will support your good intentions and will provide an unexpected treat for others.
• Try to stay away from alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is known to make a person feel less inhibited and more likely to overindulge.
• Organize a party at which food is not the focus. Get together with friends or family to attend a holiday concert or tree-lighting ceremony, or go ice skating or caroling.
• Don't abandon your exercise plan. Regular exercise not only helps relieve stress, but also helps regulate the appetite.
• Don't be too hard on yourself if you do blow it one day. Take a moment to think about what went wrong so you can try to prevent it from happening again.

If you are interested in doing a story, please phone Shirley Wills at 822-2378 or 365-4488(cell) or JoAnn King, 575-0171 or 917-7916 (pager). For media assistance during the weekend, please phone Methodist Hospital, 575-4000, and ask for the public relations representative on call.