From work holiday parties to getting together with friends, the end of the year brings a ton of reasons to celebrate. But with this period of increased social engagement also comes more food and for those with hepatitis C, keeping a balanced diet can be difficult.

Here are five tips to make sure that your hep C doesn’t stop the seasonal fun:

1. Bring lemon-infused water.

Lemon has many health benefits, but it is especially beneficial to those with liver diseases. Matthew Dolan, author of The Hepatitis C Handbook, recommends adding lemon to your daily diet to help flush out toxins. Infusing your water is a great way stay hydrated while getting lemon’s added benefits.

You can even get creative by also adding mint, cucumber and even sweet fruit to your water. It’s a good way to pack in the flavor of your favorite fruit without drinking the sugary fruit juices that make your liver work extra hard to metabolize them. Consider grabbing a water bottle that can infuse your water while you’re on-the-go.

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2. Pack snacks.

Snacks like protein bars not only keep you full in between meals, but are often filled with fiber — a “good” carbohydrate that does not turn into sugar and is good for overall health, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Protein bars are nonperishable so you can stock up at the beginning of your week and keep a few bars in your bag or car so that you’ll always have a snack option.

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