If the holiday season leaves you with extra pounds to lose at the start of the new year, think ahead to enjoy your food without overindulging.

Start by setting realistic expectations. Generally, this is not a time to “diet.” It’s okay to indulge, but not to overindulge if your goal is to maintain your current weight.

Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time so you’ll be less likely to fall into the fast food trap.

Bring an apple, banana or small bag of nuts to eat in the car as a healthy snack. Never go to a party hungry.

It’s a sure bet that you’ll be overeating in no time. Engage in mindful eating. In other words, savor each bite, focus on the joy of flavor when allowing yourself a special-occasion binge.

Write it down. Log everything you eat in a food diary. You’ll be surprised how the little munchies add up.

Drink water throughout the day and in between cocktails or sugary beverages to keep your body hydrated and your calorie intake down.

And speaking of down, schedule downtime and give yourself a chance to relax. Sloppy eating is often triggered by stress.

Adequate sleep is important because lack of sleep it affects weight regulating hormones. And so does exercise.

Try to get in at least a short walk every day to clear your head and get a burst of energy during a busy holiday season.