While the holidays call for many get-togethers in the home, many families also jump on the opportunity to dine out at restaurants. If you want to enjoy your time out with family and friends without feeling guilty over what you consume, you’ll want to learn how to properly dine out and eat smart. Surprisingly, this isn’t hard to do and once you master the right way to dine out, you’ll be super proud of yourself. And it has nothing to do with dieting!

First thing’s first, stop worrying about dieting! If you’re stuck in a diet that’s making you miserable, chances are you’re going to be miserable while eating out. Instead, modify your eating habits and learn what to do and what not to do, depending on what type of restaurant you’re eating at. Aside from breaking the whole dieting mentality, the next most important step to eating smart when dining out is to avoid starving yourself before you get there. For some reason, people tend to skip their meals earlier in the day in the anticipation of filling their bellies at the restaurant. While it may feel good after the fact, the reality is that you are doing harm to your body by depriving it of food. This can wreak havoc on your health if it becomes a habit for you, not to mention that the starvation mode will cause you to overeat during your meal. This makes it easier for you to gain weight in one sitting without even realizing it.

If you’re heading to a buffet, the temptation to load up multiple plates of food is great. Instead of grabbing the largest plate to pile your food upon, force yourself to grab a smaller plate. This will challenge you to pick your foods wisely. Only put as much food as will fit onto the plate without spilling off. Head back to your table and once you’ve finished your plate, decide whether you are full or need a bit more. Again, stick with small plates to reduce your portions. If you want to avoid overeating at a buffet, be sure to take a few sips of water in between mouthfuls. Thirst makes up a huge part of our appetite so the combination of food and beverage will satiate you before you make an unnecessary trip back to the buffet line.

Dining out at a traditional sit-down restaurant comes with its own temptations as well. If you’re visiting a place you’ve been to before, be aware of your portion control and how large of a meal you want to eat. Choose a dish that will make you full, not cause you to overindulge. However, if you’re heading to a place you’ve never been to, jump online and see if the restaurant has a website. Many restaurants post their menus, specials, and some even take the time to post nutritional information about their dishes. By having an idea of what you want ahead of time, you’ll save yourself time browsing through the menu and prevent your eyes from being bigger than your stomach.

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