The fall and winter are seasons during which we all seem especially vulnerable to gorging, feeling bloated, and eating far more than we need to. Even more dangerous, it often leads to untenable New Year’s Resolutions: “Lose more weight!” which only leads to a yo-yo effect. You may lose weight in the direct aftermath of the holidays, but you’re likely to put some back on again after a quick diet. Better to go into the holiday season with a few smart and effective tactics to enjoy yourself without overeating—and avoiding the vicious circle of losing and gaining weight afterwards.

I came across this blog post recently by a journalist who read French Women Don’t Get Fat. She shares a few tips she learned from the books, as well as the National Post video (embedded below) above are great reminders of some ways you can easily maintain your equilibrium. A few of my top tips that also work for the holiday season are:

1. Use the Magical Breakfast from The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook: it’s an easy breakfast and an effortless way to help keep your waistline intact.

2. Eat everything slowly and pay attention; try to avoid gulping down platefuls of food mindlessly while standing up at parties.

3. Focus on quality rather than quantity. Pass up the multiple plates of subpar cookies, and instead splurge on a quality dark chocolate truffle.

4. With the cold weather, it’s a perfect time for soups. If you overindulge a bit one night, have a smaller meal with soup the next day.

5. Even though it’s getting colder, find some easy ways to stay active…a daily walk (bundled up) and taking the stairs are helpful; yoga is a good indoor activity, too.

6. Even though I love food, the greatest pleasure of the holidays is the chance to see so much of your friends and family…be sure to enjoy and focus on this, and not only the food.

If you need more tips, Keeping your equilibrium over the holidays is also worth a re-visit.