By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

With Christmas just days away, many are gathering for large meals with family and friends, chock full of sweets, baked goods and other special holiday items.

Carly Francis, dietician for OSF Saint James – John W. Albrecht Medical Center, said the holiday dinner table doesn’t have to be feared and offered several tips on how to keep from gaining a lot of weight over the holiday season. One such tip can help year around.

“Make sure you’re staying nice and hydrated. Drink plenty of water. If you do go overboard, don’t get down on yourself. That next Monday will be another day and you can restart your diet again at that point, but we want to be mindful of what we’re eating, that way we don’t put on those holiday pounds that tend to stick on us throughout the next year,” Francis said.

Francis was a guest on a recent Community Forum and gave other tips to help the waistline through the holidays. The podcast is available here.