Your Christmas Cookie Survival Guide

Don't beat yourself up over a cookie or two. Indulgence is fun for a reason, and a day or two of binging won't have you looking like Mrs. Claus.

"If there's something or a day where you really want to indulge, you might be willing to do a little extra activity to make up for it," says Sandra Carpenter, RD, Senior Program Manager for Weight Management and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

You don't have to spend all winter on a treadmill, though. Use these strategies to satisfy your cravings without overdoing it.

7. Watch Where You Stand

Avoiding overindulgence can be as simple as where you stand, Ventrelle says. Choose a table where you're further away from the food at your next holiday party, and you won't be as likely to graze aimlessly.

Science backs her up: In a study involving a candy dish, participants ate 1.8 more candies per day when the dish was placed on their desk as opposed to 2 meters away.

"Be social," Metz says. "Engage in conversation. You're keeping yourself occupied, and the event isn't just about eating."

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