Eight days until Christmas. Do you know where your weight is? Up a pound or two, maybe?

Not to worry. According to Maria Stewart, assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Hawai'i-Mänoa, it's perfectly normal to gain weight between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

It's important to realize that it's never too late to take control of your eating, Stewart said.

"Be honest with yourself. You don't eat this way the other 10 1/2 months of the year, so it's OK to gain a pound or two," Stewart said, reassuringly. "Don't deny it's the holidays and don't punish yourself for indulging a little."

The key word is "little." Be mindful of what you're putting in your mouth.

With our crazy holiday schedules and all the extra tasks we heap upon ourselves, it's easy to go into autopilot and just start eating whatever food is convenient. Unfortunately, what's convenient during the holidays is often not what's best for us. Cookies, pies, candies, candied yams, ham and such can pile on the pounds, if some care is not exercised.

Allow yourself some slack and don't aim for perfection.

Choose to focus on two or three specific areas to watch out for, such as sticking to a firm workout schedule, avoiding the cheese tray or taking tiny portions of rich desserts.

We compiled a list of 10 strategies for surviving the holidays without putting on too much weight — weight that will make those New Year's resolutions even harder to keep — based on information from Stewart and the IDEA Health & Fitness Association.

10 STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVING HOLIDAYS

1. Eat sensibly before a party or night out. "The worst idea is to skip early meals in anticipation of a holiday meal or party. Eat a small breakfast and lunch," suggests Maria Stewart, assistant professor of nutrition at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. "It's helpful to eat a high-fiber snack such as raw veggies or an apple to make you feel full. If you go to the party starving, chances are you'll eat all the wrong things.

2. Practice mindfulness. Before heaping anything on your plate, scan the offerings. Take one "virtual" trip through the buffet. "Identify the foods you really love," Stewart said. "Go ahead and have a small portion. It's not gonna ruin your diet." Feeling deprived is not healthy, especially during the holidays.

3. When faced with a groaning buffet table, "look at the protein sources first," Stewart said. "Protein makes us feel full and can help us feel better during the meal. Carbs may make you get a sugar high, then a low. Protein allows the body to mediate." Look for sashimi, poke, edamame, tofu, shrimp, or legume-based dips such as hummus. Watch out for dips and sauces that may be high in fat or salt.

4. Next on the buffet table: vegetables. "They're good because they have fewer calories per gram of food, but many people don't find them satisfying, so we eat them with lots of dip, and that negates the calorie savings," Stewart noted. "Fruit is another healthy alternative. It's refreshing and satisfies a sweet tooth while giving vitality."

5. Savor each party experience. Eat slowly. "Be in the moment" with the food you eat and the conversations you have with other guests. Eating slowly will help you be more aware of when you are satisfied and feeling full.

6. Create a physical buffer zone between you and food at parties. A couch, an end table, or a group of people can create a zone that's a safe distance from the buffet. This discourages mindless munching.

7. Limit alcohol intake. "It's a sneaky way we get calories," Stewart said, adding: "When the body breaks down alcohol, it preferentially stores it as fat, not energy." One alcoholic drink a day for women and two for men is preferred.

8. At the office, keep food as far away as possible. Move it out of your sight line and at least an arm's length away. Another option, practiced by an Advertiser staffer and colleague: bring healthy snacks during the holiday season, substituting fresh grapes, strawberries, nuts and rice cakes for the usual cookies and candies.

9. When heading out to shop, take a healthy snack or an energy bar (with protein) from home. If you forget and need to grab a bite, be careful what you choose. "Look for items with protein," Stewart suggests. On her "good foods" list are Zippy's chili, the Southwestern Salad at Jack in the Box and a Jamba Juice fruit smoothie with a protein boost.

10. "Offset the greater calorie intake with a workout," Stewart said. "Even just a walk around the neighborhood with the family instead of sitting on the sofa after dinner can burn calories; or go outside and play with the keiki." Arrange to meet a workout buddy the morning after a party, and you'll be more likely to stay on track.