Kids know the holidays come with more treats than usual. Parents know they come with temptation! Here are a few tips to help families incorporate their holiday favorites without going overboard:

1. Fix your plate and move to another room away from the food.
2. Offer to bring your favorite healthy dish and ask other family members to do the same.
3. Choose smaller portions and eat slowly. Truly enjoy the foods that you may only have once a year.
4. Choose low-calorie drinks such as water, unsweetened tea or diet beverages.
5. Watch out for heavy holiday favorites, such as honey glazed hams, turkey swimming in gravy, and dishes loaded with butter, sour cream, cheese or mayo.
6. Look for side dishes that are light on butter and other extra fats and sugars, such as marshmallow or fried toppings.
7. Select fruit instead of pies, cakes and other desserts high in fat and sugar.
8. Focus on friends, family and activities instead of food. Take a walk after a meal, help clean, or create a new tradition of a friendly family game of football.
9. Don’t sleep away your vacation. Use this extra time to get moving and stay active.
10. Do your best to not overindulge, but if you do, get back on track quickly.

Meg Green lives in Little Rock with her husband and daughter. She has worked at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for nine years and is a specialist in pediatrics and weight management.