Eating healthy during this time of the year is harder for everyone. Consider the following tips to help you cut back on fat and calories in your holiday favorites:

• Use cooking sprays for skillets and baking pans. It will cut back on the mess and the total fat and calories in your baked or sautéed foods.

• Let your dairy and sweeteners be low-fat and low-cal. Sugar, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, heavy cream, eggs and eggnog are all higher in fat and calories.

• Instead of sour cream, use plain yogurt, light or non-fat cream cheese, or low-fat evaporated milk; instead of eggs, use only egg whites or an egg substitute; instead of regular egg nog, stick to light.

Try these tips to help you start new holiday traditions with family and friends that do not revolve around food:

• Read (even better, act out) a favorite holiday story as a family.

• Take a walk to admire neighbors’ outdoor holiday decorations.

• Play games after dinner instead of watching TV.

• Gather in front of the fire to sing holiday favorites.

• Move the furniture out of the way, dim the lights, and dance to your favorite tunes.