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Take Charge
Gatherings are fun. Don't turn them into some endurance test by either getting so stressed out about eating that you enjoy nothing, or by overindulging to the point that you let yourself down. Find your center and operate from there.

Begin by staying on your meal plan the entire day. Yes, you might be having a great meal later, but don't try to "save up" calories before it. Eat your breakfast when you get up, and focus on keeping pace with your normal eating schedule throughout the day—it will do wonders for curbing sudden urges and binging.

Also, don't deprive yourself of what you really love. If your mom's cranberry sauce is just to die for, then serve it up. If your uncle's homemade stuffing calls your name every year, then dig in. If your grandmother's pumpkin pie has been your favorite since you were five, then go for it—but have just one piece, or one scoop, or one helping, and then let that be enough. That way, both your stomach and your spirit get satisfied.

Think Quality, Not Quantity
Staying in control doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself. In fact, it's just the opposite—you can treat yourself two-fold: you can enjoy what you like AND not have any of the guilt, if you do it in moderation.

Listed here are some traditional favorites for this time of year and a recommended serving amount for each. As you make your way down the buffet line, keep these guidelines in mind to make sure you don't get too much of a good thing:

Appropriate Serving Sizes:

Turkey —3 oz.—about the size of a deck of cards
Mashed Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes —1/2 cup—about half the size of a baseball
Gravy—1 Tablespoon—just enough for fancy drizzling
Stuffing—1/4 cup—about two heaping Tablespoons
Cranberry Relish (if made with sugar)—1 Tablespoon (or try our recipe this week: Sugar-Free Cranberry Relish —then you can have two!)
Vegetables—if plain, help yourself! Or with any kind of cream sauce, 2 heaping Tablespoons (and try to drain the sauce off when removing them from the serving dish)
Dinner roll—skip it if it's not homemade
Pie—1/12 of a 9" pie
Wine—1 glass if you'd like; otherwise diet soda or sparkling water with lemon or lime

Just remember, when it comes to portions, it's not how big it is, but how much you enjoy it, that really counts!

More Than Just Good Food

Sometimes we forget that when family and friends gather there's a lot to do besides just eating. Take advantage of the time for a little chat or Playstation showdown with your nephew, or why not pitch an after-dinner walk to that interesting cousin of yours? Grab a dishtowel in the kitchen (after the leftovers are safely put away!) and reminisce with your brother over clean crystal. Start up a board game, or catch the last half of the big game with your wife. Time is precious.

On special days, there's usually so much to enjoy beyond the food, and plenty to devour long after our stomachs are full. With perspective and a little control, you can take it all in and find satisfaction far beyond the turkey and the stuffing.