There’s nothing like getting together with family and special friends, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas. All the bakeries display a festive array of cakes, pies, cookies, breads, and other tantalizing treats. And who can resist the smell of fresh bread baking, turkey roasting, or glazed ham baking in the oven? These special occasions also tend to revive old family recipes from past generations that can sometimes tempt us to binge. One tip to help you rise above the binge is to first survey all the food and know what is available. Then you can choose the foods that will be the most appealing to you at mealtime. After you have surveyed the food, you can select your favorites—a piece of glazed ham instead of turkey and dressing, and sweet potatoes with marshmallows instead of the mashed potatoes and gravy. You add some green beans and a dinner roll, and decide to wait on dessert for now. Now you are ready to enjoy your holiday meal. Since you have already surveyed the food and selected your favorites, you can now rate the selections on your plate. Remember to eat the best bites first; you don’t have to clean your plate! When you feel yourself approaching fullness, push the plate aside or simply cover it with your napkin. Remember to save room for your favorite dessert later. What if you are not hungry when the holiday meal is served? Just fix your plate, cover it, and set it aside for later. You’ll enjoy it much more when you are truly hungry. And here is another tip: ask for your favorite recipes! Most of the time, the person who prepared the dish is honored and will be very happy to share the recipe. Then you can prepare those family favorites and enjoy them any time of the year, not just at the holidays.