It's the most wonderful time of the year for a reason! Many of us take this Christmas holiday as an excuse to pig out and feel no remorse about stuffing our faces with our favorite foods. I know that's how I look at it anyway. But according to the The New England Journal of Medicine, the average weight gain won't be more than a pound or so. The problem comes from the fact that most of us don't shed the extra baggage during the following months, so it turns into a cumulative effect.

However, if you're under the knife about keeping a diet in order or just want to cut back this season, here are some strategies to eat smarter and avoid that extra pound or more altogether. First and foremost, like all things holiday or otherwise, moderation is the key. This is not just a holiday strategy because we've seen this focal point echoed many times before. Excessive eating at any point in the year will give you the same effect, so as the common knowledge suggests, eat in moderation!

The article points out that an appetite can also be the culprit. "Avoid eating smaller-than-normal portions for breakfast and lunch, which may leave you feeling ravenous at dinner and prompt you to eat more than normal," said Doctor Milton Stokes of the American Dietetic Association. Although eating more may not have as much to do with it as the social situation you are in. Some new research indicates that when we are rubbing elbows with friends and family, we're far more likely to eat a greater amount of food. How much, you ask? Forty-four percent more calories are consumed when eating with a group than alone. No wonder we love the company of our friends and family so much!