Thinking about giving up your diet for a few days over the Easter weekend to gorge on holiday food? You know the kind! Many of us break the diet rules to stuff ourselves with dishes made of rich, fatty foods; and eat and drink late into the night. The Easter /Passover season can tempt us to abandon our healthy eating regime. So what can you do?

Here are some tips to help you have a weight-gain-free holiday:

• Stop eating or drinking at around 7 p.m. to cut down on needless extras.

• Ask for a SLIVER of a portion of dessert or food item.

• Beware of beverages. Drinks often pack a big calorie punch.

• Relax during the holidays as much as you can to relieve emotional stress that leads to bad eating habits.

• Keep exercising! Staying on track with your exercise program to keep your metabolic rate (the amount of calories you burn just maintaining your body) high.

• Keep portions to a minimum. Try not to eat those "till you explode" large meals.

• Make better choices.  Eat food that fits into your healthy eating plan.

• Bring your own dish. You can bring lower fat/lower calorie renditions of favorite holiday foods.

• Try ingredient substitutions. Use light cream cheese, fat-free sour cream, light mayonnaise, egg whites, and reduced fat cheese in your appetizers and side dishes.

Implement these easy rules the best you can during the holiday weekend to maintain your weight and keep yourself healthy. No one is saying not to eat the ham, rolls, and the chocolate eggs, just try a little of each. The festive season is a time to celebrate, not a time to go into food overload.