The holiday season is upon us, and as the New Year rapidly approaches, Mount Sinai Medical Center wants to ensure that its community is committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As family and friends start to gather for the festivities, it is important to be mindful of ingredients, portion sizes and allergens when preparing meals. Here are six tips to help you craft a range of a holiday dishes with a focus on nutrition and sustainability in preparation for the weeks ahead:

Include essential nutrients: To enhance the nutritional value of your holiday meals, incorporate foods rich in fiber, vitamins, proteins and complex carbohydrates. Diverse and nutritious food options include sweet potatoes, brown rice, nuts and seeds, red and green peppers, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits and berries. Strive to minimize the intake of saturated fats, cook everything thoroughly (use a food thermometer), and keep foods, especially poultry, meats and eggs separate to avoid cross contamination.

Create an eating schedule: Establish a structured eating schedule to promote mindful and balanced consumption throughout the holiday season. Aim to eat close to your usual time to keep your blood sugar steady. If a meal is served later than usual, eat a small snack as a replacement of your mealtime and eat a little less when dinner is served. Keep in mind not to skip meals but remain consistent in your eating routine.

Portion control and variety: Moderation is key when it comes to healthy eating. It’s important to aim for a diverse range of food options, while also ensuring that there is a well-rounded amount for everyone to enjoy. Try not to overcook too much so food does not go to waste.

Treat yourself: While it’s important to limit your sugar intake, the holidays are also a time for celebration. Indulge in treats in moderation to strike a balance. You could also try creating sweet alternatives such as baked apples with cinnamon and honey instead of pecan pie to cut calories and sugar intake.

Stay active: Being physically active is always a necessary part of living a healthy life, whether it’s holiday season or not. Divide physical activity into smaller parts to make it easier to find time to exercise. Even a 10-minute walk can help you to stay active, reduce stress, and aid your digestion after eating a hearty holiday meal. Doing so will keep you, your friends, and family members active as well.

Keep a consistent sleeping schedule: Sleep deprivation initiates a reward mechanism that can cause you to overeat and favor high-fat, high-sugar foods, making it difficult to manage blood sugar levels. To avoid mindless eating, try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night.

A few things you can add or change to your food repertoire include drinking water instead of unsweetened flavored beverages, cooking white meat, limiting gravies and cream sauces, serving baked potatoes and vegetables instead casseroles, use less sugar in baked treats.

While it is easy to overindulge during the holidays, remember to keep moving your body and maintaining a healthy mindset. Your health is important; these suggestions will help you enjoy this wonderful time of year. Here’s to a happy, healthy and safe holiday season.