Everyone keeps telling you that married life is about love, happiness and compromise. What's the big deal, you think. You like his family, his furniture, the way he looks in his reading glasses, and you're even generous enough to support his Sunday morning golf game. But wait a minute! What you don't like are his eating habits. He's all boy: chili dogs, chocolate cake, prime rib with saut'd mushrooms, packaged cookies and, of course, potato chips. After months of eating right and slimming down for the big day, you hardly want to kick off the first year of marriage by gaining back those pounds you worked so hard to lose. So how can you eat happily ever after? We've got healthy habits you can both start today to help create a longer, leaner, livelier tomorrow.

Update your recipe box: Did you know that during the first year of marriage, many people gain as many as ten pounds? Don't let it happen to you. You can eat well, just make sure to eat healthy. From mashed potatoes and gravy to devil's food cake, there are plenty of easy ways to make healthier versions of all your favorite foods. Browse cookbooks for ideas or check out WeightWatchers.com delicious and easy-to-prepare recipes.

If your partner groans at the thought of your "healthy cooking," make the adjustment less painful by starting out with easy substitutes like non-fat plain yogurt instead of sour cream, egg whites instead of whole eggs, olive oil instead of butter, and ground turkey instead of ground beef. Once your partner realizes his tastes buds aren't suffering, get ready to introduce low or non-fat cheeses, salad dressings, breads, crackers and cookies to your pantry. Just don't be surprised if veggie corn dogs and low-fat frozen yogurt winds up in your shopping cart when it's his turn to shop.

Watch your portions: Now that you're cooking for two, you might have faced the age-old question: What do two plates, a recipe that serves six, and zero leftovers add up to? The answer is oversized portions. Between the misguided urgings of our parents to "clean our plates," and out-of-control restaurant meal portions setting an unhealthy standard, it's easy to understand why so many of us chronically overeat. If the problem is eating too much, the solution is learning portion control. Start your education by measuring out portion sizes a few times so you get accustomed to how they look on your dishes. You can also use visual metaphors to help you, for example, one serving of pasta is about the size of a tennis ball and one serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. When you're cooking at home, limit each plate to just one portion, and immediately put leftovers in a storage container. When eating out, ask your server to box half of your meal to take home.

Keep healthy snacks on hand: When we're hungry, we tend to reach for what's fast and easy. So it doesn't help when he stocks the larder with chips and ice cream. When hunger strikes, you better get ready to fight back. Start by making healthier choices as convenient as junk food. When you get home from the market with a bag of groceries, make a point to wash and trim those fresh veggies right away, keeping them within easy reach in the fridge. That way, the next time you crave something crunchy, you can choose from a platter of ready-to-eat carrots, celery, green beans and whatever else you love to munch. And you never know, maybe your idea of a healthy snack will start to rub off on him, too.

Exercise Together: Perhaps the most important advice for a happy couple recovering from planning the wedding: Don't turn into couch potatoes. Yes, you love spending time together, and you need your exercise. So who says you can't combine the two. Take a walk together everyday after work. Ride your bike to Sunday brunch. Join a softball team, be workout buddies at the gym or go dancing on Saturday nights. Even if you have different workout schedules, you can still help to motivate one another by setting fitness goals, tracking your progress and encouraging your partner to stick with an exercise program.

Plan Ahead: If you're making a serious effort to count calories, points, or just to eat light, it's important to know what you're eating. If possible, sit down together to plan meals for the weeks, allowing for those days when you'll want to eat out or bring food home. Keep a grocery list of the ingredients you'll need on the refrigerator, and add items as needed. When you shop, stick to your list, and avoid tempting impulsive buys that didn't make the cut. Combined with making an effort not to shop when you're hungry, keeping a grocery list will significantly lessen the chances of junk food landing in your pantry OR in your mouth.

Ask for support: Even if you're dieting alone, you really don't have to go it alone. Getting support from others, especially your partner, is critical to your dieting success. For example. if keeping sweets or other snacks in the house tests your will-power, ask your partner to stockpile them -- or at least enjoy them -- somewhere else.