The holidays can mean having a lot on your plate this time of year, from gift giving to cooking and hosting celebrations. Guthrie County Hospital gives some advice on how to avoid putting too much on your dinner plate as well.

Dietitian Carol Laughery says one cause of overeating during the holidays is lack of sleep. This loss can make it harder to manage your blood sugar, and those who are sleep deprived tend to eat more and prefer high-fat, high-sugar food. Laughery recommends getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night to safeguard against mindless eating.

For adults, Laughery says increased alcohol can also lead to more eating, “Sometimes drinking more than two or three drinks can kind of lower those inhibitions and you might be more apt to overeat. So looking at those calories in some of the beverages and maybe sticking to one or something that’s a low-calorie soda or spritzer or something that you can enjoy that isn’t going to allow you to overeat.”

Another way to cut down on stress and make up for frequent eating this holiday season is physical activity. Laughery recommends encouraging your friends and family to get active, such as taking a walk after a holiday meal.