I invited the Food Editor for Diabetes Forecast Magazine, Robyn Webb, over to the Fitness & Spice table today to dish out some healthy eating tips to get us through the holiday season. When Robyn isn’t editing or sending me amazing healthy cooking tips on twitter, she’s also a chef, author, diabetes nutrition expert and nutritionist. With all of this on her plate, I wonder when she has time to eat!

Robyn believes good things come in small packages, and speaking of small packages, I’m going to turn the table over to Robyn while I run to see if the UPS man put one of her cookbooks down on my doorstep…

Even if you are not expecting a little black velvet box this holiday season, small is good any time of year; small portions that is!  A recent research study found that watching portion size was the most effective long term weight loss aid over other factors such as cutting down on fat and carbohydrates.  And during the holidays, you need not go into deprivation; learning to control your portions is the first step to lifelong health.

Here are some fantastic ways to watch your portion control:

• Use lunch plates for dinner.  You can only fit so much on a plate!
• Better still, try using a compartment style plate.  (Each compartment will also hold only so much)
• Overeat on the rice?  Next time you prepare grains, mold them into small tins designed for small tarts.  Each small tin holds about 1/3 to ½ cup
• Slice your fruits so they seem like more.  Fan out a small apple or pear into slices on a plate and it will feel like a lot more fruit than eating out of hand.
• Serve dessert in espresso cups
• Make individual portion sizes of meat loaf or casseroles.  Invest in mini loaf pans and small ramekin dishes.
• Clean up the pots and pans before you sit down to eat.  Put away all leftovers immediately. This will make it harder for you to go back for seconds.
• Avoid serving family style.  Make a plate for yourself.
• And lastly, eat slowly.  It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register that your body has had nourishment.  You will feel fuller longer if you slow down!

While the holiday time is for big celebrations, think small when it comes to your food and you’ll really have something to celebrate: great health!