If your place of work is like mine, this is the time of year when food lurks around every corner. I cannot visit a clinic area, patient floor or hospital department without tasty treats calling my name.

We all have good intentions of not overindulging around the holidays, but research shows the average American will gain between 1 and 5 pounds between now and the New Year. Maybe that’s why so many of our New Year’s resolutions deal with our diets! One pound may not sound like much but, over the long haul, these pounds add up.

So how do you avoid these workplace temptations around the holidays? As with any other challenging situation, success requires some planning.

• Make sure you are eating a healthy balanced diet. If you are cutting back too much at meals now, you may find yourself hungry and more easily tempted when faced with the office goodies.
  
• Avoid areas you know have extra food out for passers-by. In some workplaces it may be the break room or a specific person’s office or cubicle.
  
• Select lower-fat, lower-calorie food if it’s your turn to bring the treat. Consider items like flavored popcorn or crispy rice bars.
  
• Watch portion sizes and amounts if you’re bringing cookies, cakes, or anything that can be divided into portions. If the portion size is controlled, you are less likely to overindulge.
  
• Make your potluck dish something you like and can eat. If you fill up on your own healthy dish, you’ll be less likely to overindulge on other food.
  
• Skip dessert or spend extra time at the gym if you find yourself snacking during the day or eating more than usual.
  
• Remember that just because you broke away from your plan today, you can restart your healthy diet tomorrow!