Before you get to any event, have a plan in place for what you will eat. You can also plan ahead by looking at online restaurant menus to plan your meal ahead of time. If the event is at a house, ask the host what he or she is planning to serve, and offer to bring your own healthy dish that complements the meal.

Skipping a meal can negatively impact your blood glucose level, especially if you take insulin. When you do have a meal, aim to fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables (e.g. broccoli, carrots, spinach), a fourth of your plate with lean protein (e.g. skinless chicken, fish), and the final fourth with grains (e.g., brown rice). Add a piece fruit and/or dairy to complete your meal.

Staying hydrated and drinking water is important for our overall health and well-being, but new research shows it may also help with the calories we consume. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, researchers found that drinking more water is associated with eating fewer calories, as well as less sugar, salt and cholesterol. While more controlled research on this topic should be done to confirm this finding, choosing water may be helpful to limit other sugar-sweetened drinks that may be tempting.

Foods rich in carbohydrates can provide a lot of good nutrients for us. Yet compared with fats and protein, carbs have the biggest impact on blood sugar. This is why it’s important to choose your carbs wisely, and go with low glycemic foods – carbohydrates that are slowly digested and don’t impact your blood sugar levels. In contrast, foods with a high glycemic index and glycemic load are digested rapidly and cause spikes in blood sugar. Limit refined and processed carbohydrates and choose fiber-rich whole foods such as apples, carrots, beans and cashews.

It’s not just what you eat, it’s how much when looking to control your blood glucose. Some simple guidelines for estimated portions:

One cup = a fist
3 ounces = palm of your hand
1 tablespoon = thumb

Did you know that it takes 20 minutes for your brain to catch up with your stomach and let you know that you are “full”. Research has shown that when meals are consumed slowly, people ate significantly fewer calories and consumed more water than those who ate fast. To help slow down your eating – try to chew slowly, place your utensil down or take a sip of water between bites.

Although many holiday traditions revolve around meal time, consider adding a more physical activity into your holiday traditions. Perhaps play a game of tag or hide and seek outside, or go on a family walk after your meal.

Lastly, if a food setback happens, don’t give up. “A lot of us can tend to overindulge despite our best efforts,” Johnson says. “Instead of feeling guilt about it, acknowledge your feelings and focus on getting back on track at your next meal.” Also, try to recognise your triggers to prevent future setbacks. One of the major holiday culprits: stress. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 40 percent of adults say they eat too much unhealthy food because of stress. Instead, try other activities to deal with stress such as taking a walk, meditation or talking to a friend.