That season of cookies, candied yams and all kind of culinary temptation is upon us again – bringing with it the specter of some serious weight gain.

But the holidays don't have to wreak havoc on your waistline. The holidays actually have a high health potential because people stop eating fast food and take the time to make dishes from scratch, said Lisa Wilson, a health and nutrition counselor in Washington, D.C.

"So it isn't something to get to get stressed out about, but something to embrace," she said.

Here are five tips that will help you embrace both your health and the holiday foods you love:

Hydrate, but not with Eggnog

"A lot of people misinterpret thirst for hunger," said Veronica E. Hayduk, a naturopathic physician from Rockville.

Drinking a glass of water before meals helps you avoid overeating, she said.

Just make sure to count your drinks' calories. Jamie Futterman, a dietician at Washington Adventist Hospital points out that eight ounces of eggnog with alcohol has 350 calories. And drinking alcoholic beverages also lowers your inhibitions, making it easier to overeat, she said. Futterman suggests drinking two glasses of water between every alcoholic beverage.

Food Without a Barcode

Using packaged foods is sometimes easier, but serving locally grown produce supports local growers, takes plate space away from starchy foods and helps curb the appetite.

Futterman suggests serving at least two vegetable dishes with your meals. Fresh salads and coleslaws are an easy way to cut calories.

Kale crisps also make for a tasty, healthful appetizer, said Hayduk, and cooking whole foods can be a great way to get the family involved in cooking.

More Spice, Less Butter and Sugar

Holiday favorites like mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes don't have to be seasoned with butter, cream and sugar.

Hayduk suggests seasoning mashed potatoes with turmeric, a spice known to lower inflammation.  Ginger, cinnamon, and rosemary are also great choices, she said.

To scale back on the sugar, Wilson says to substite half of a recipe's recommendation with natural sweeteners like barley malt, maple sugar or brown rice sugar. People can even sweeten their coffee with honey. 

"All these little changes will really add up to big results," she said.

Indulge One Fatty Favorite

One of the challenges of the holidays is the abundance of fatty, starchy options like macaroni and cheese. Eating healthfully during the holidays doesn't have to include avoiding your favorite treats altogether, but indulging from Thanksgiving to New Years can become a problem, said Futterman.

She says to choose your favorite fatty dish, then skip those dishes – say, mashed potatoes – that you can eat anytime.

Don't Go to Parties Hungry

When going to big events, a lot of people tend to save up their calories, but that can backfire, said Futterman.

Eating a small amount of proteins and carbohydrates beforehand can help decrease how much you eat once you arrive, she said.

In the end, it's just a matter of eating more with your head and less with your gut.

"Check in to that moment and ask yourself what you're actually craving," said Wilson.