Holiday eating adds up to pound a year

A whole lot of eating and drinking goes on during the six-week holiday spree that starts next week with Thanksgiving and ends with the pop of a champagne cork at New Year's. The average American is about a pound heavier when it's all over, according to the National Institutes of Health.

That doesn't sound so bad. The trouble is that most people never lose the extra fluff, so each year we get fatter. For the second year in a row, North Carolina's Eat Smart, Move More healthful lifestyle campaign is challenging people to maintain their weight in the face of eggnog, fudge and deep-fried turkey. Here are some tips.

PICK THE BEST, LEAVE THE REST. You don't have to forgo treats entirely, but you should be selective, says Marie Shelton, a registered dietitian and coordinator of this year's challenge. On Thanksgiving, for example, don't automatically load your plate with a helping from every dish. "Just choose what you really want to eat and skip the rest," Shelton advises.

WINDOW SHOPPING IS EXERCISE, TOO. As to-do lists get crowded with shopping and parties, exercise can be one of the first things cut to make room. Compensate by building physical activity into holiday chores, Shelton said. Instead of jockeying for the parking space closest to the mall entrance, park far away and get in a brisk walk. Too cold for strolling in the open air? Arrive at the mall 30 minutes early and do a few laps inside before you start shopping, Shelton suggests.