Come January, there will come the annual promises to get fit, shed pounds and feel better.

But Highland Community Hospital dietician Dana Decuir says that good eating decisions made now, over the holiday season, can help reduce regret and improve health.

And, despite the fact that we celebrate the season with food, Decuir said keeping weight off doesn’t have to be hard.

In fact, Decuir said she doesn’t believe anything should be off-limits.

“Not too much, no,” she said. “There usually isn’t anything that we can’t have, but moderation is the key.”

But with the sights and smells of tasty food in the home, moderation can be difficult. Decuir said she has some recommendations for folks hoping to cut back.

“One thing is to always try to eat off a smaller plate,” Decuir said. “That helps keep your portions in check. And I tell people to try and do half their plate in vegetables before you go to the deserts. And eating a salad before the meal can help keep control on portions and it’ll give you fiber and make you feel full. And people should wait for 10 minutes before they go back for seconds, and we say that because usually after they wait, then they’ll realize they feel full.”

After the meal, Decuir suggests families spend time outdoors, having a walk or playing sports. With Thursday’s forecast predicted to be dry with highs in the 70s, there should be no obstacle to outdoor activity.

“Plan some outdoor activities instead of just sitting around all day,” she said.

In addition, numerous health websites offer small, low-impact exercises one may do around the home while preparing for guests.

Through her job at the hospital, Decruir said she meets with patients who have been referred to her by doctors, usually because they have weight issues or diabetes and need to radically change their lifestyle.

But, of course, major health issues could be avoided with lifestyle modifications earlier in life.

“It’s just about portion control,” she said.