The holiday season is a time of celebration, family gatherings, and tons of delicious home-made food! Yet, it’s also a period when many people worry about overeating or consuming excess calories leading to unintended weight gain. Whether you are actively working towards weight loss or aiming to avoid your pants feeling tighter, it is perfectly reasonable to feel a bit of anxiety around this holiday event. Research shows that while the average holiday weight gain is modest—on average 1.1 pounds—it often to linger well beyond January for most adults. The good news is that with mindful planning and evidence-based strategies, you can enjoy holiday meals without compromising your health goals. Today, we review some evidence-backed strategies for controlling your nutritional intake to avoid feeling guilty or anxious around the family holiday meal.