Between the peppermint bark and the pecan pie, the turkey and the mashed potatoes, our holiday taste buds are already tingling with anticipation.

This is an especially tough time of year for those of us who are trying to maintain or adopt sensible eating habits. We just don’t want to have to go up one more pants size. Again.

Dr. Lona Sandon, Associate Professor of Clinical Nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center, offers several tips on how to keep salt, sugar, and fat in check.

Do this, not that

• Roast the turkey, don’t brine it. Roast the turkey with onions, carrots, celery, cracked pepper, or any other veggies and spices you like to add flavor. Skip the brine and salt. Then strain the juice and skim off the fat to make a healthier gravy without added salt instead of the store-bought gravy.
• Cut out the crust. If you like pie, but not all the fat that comes with it, then skip the crust. Do a dish of baked apples, peaches, and cranberries with cinnamon (go light on the butter). Top with a dollop of light whipped cream and fresh raspberries.
• Go for a spritzer in place of fruity, sugary, holiday drinks. Try sparkling water with a splash of 100 percent cranberry juice and a slice of lime. 

Keep track – realistically

Let’s face it. Nobody really likes to write down everything they eat, even with an app. Instead, be mindful of the food around you. It’s easy to get off track when holiday treats seem to be everywhere at all times of the day. To prevent yourself from mindlessly munching, try setting aside a few treats to eat with your next meal when you are truly hungry. Aim to keep your meals on your usual schedule. 

Manage your portion size to prevent overeating

• When it comes to portions, bigger is not always better, unless we are talking about a big salad with lots of veggies. Make your salad and veggies your main dish. Think of meat and potatoes as sides, not the main dish.
• As for sweet treats like holiday pies, usually a sliver will do. Start small; you can get more if you really need it.
• Keep some white space on the plate. If you have covered your entire plate, you probably served yourself too much. Try to leave some space between foods.
• Adjust your intake. If you overindulge one day, make the next day a little lighter.