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When Oreland mom Jahnna Henderson goes to a holiday party, she tries to bring something healthy, like shrimp or vegetables and dip, which she knows she can eat without sabotaging her goals.

At the party she puts together one plate and leaves it at that, rather than picking at the hors d’oeuvres all night. That way she knows when she’s finished eating.

Henderson lost 21 percent of her body weight last spring as the winner of One Fit Mama’s Fittest Mama Challenge, an intensive 12-week nutrition and fitness competition for moms of the Philadelphia suburbs.

One Fit Mama is a fitness company that holds classes where mothers and their young children can exercise together. Registration for the Fittest Mama Challenge is open now, and the competition is set to begin shortly after New Year’s Day.

Henderson’s triumph changed the way she, her husband and children approach health and nutrition.

“I think part of it is I want to be a good example for my kids,” she said. “We’re now each much healthier. We’re all about whole grains.”

Henderson has lost about 40 pounds since the Fittest Mama Challenge, which required her to participate in biweekly workshops, twice-monthly weigh-ins, and physical challenges in which she competed against other moms in wall squats, pushups and relay races.

Through the challenge she also listened to speakers who discussed topics such as nutrition and “mommy guilt,” when a mom feels guilty about taking time for herself.

“You have to take care of yourself in order to be a better mom to take care of your kids,” Henderson said.

Now her workout routine includes working out with One Fit Mama about three times a week at different locations like churches and malls.

Henderson and her friend Meg, a third-place winner in the Fittest Mama Challenge last year, run together twice a week, sometimes as they push their children in strollers. Henderson has a two-seater she won in a challenge last year.

She and her One Fit Mama friends also run together in 10Ks and 5Ks.

“It’s fun to do with the other ladies. It’s just very empowering,” she said. “You know, you sit on the couch and never think you can do that. Even if you walk, it doesn’t have to be a 5K or a mile. Just do something.”

She felt a desire to become healthier after turning 30, she said. It was time to reclaim the athletic routine she had when she was younger and decided to run a marathon, which she completed in 5 hours and 50 minutes.

“Then I just got out of it. You get so busy,” she said.

Now it’s easier to make the time because not only does she enjoy seeing her One Fit Mama friend, but her children want to see their friends. Her daughter, Teagan, 4, wants to go every day.

Henderson began working out with One Fit Mama when Teagan was a year old. The program was appealing because it would get both of them out of the house for an activity they could do together, she said.

Now Teagan and her brother, 20-month-old Ronan, enjoy healthy lunches like peanut butter and jelly on whole-wheat bread with applesauce on the side — Monday’s meal.

Carrot sticks often replace Goldfish crackers and cookies — “just small things we are doing as a family,” Henderson said.

Teagan has a history of passing over chips for carrots and hummus.

Besides setting a good example for her children, Henderson stays motivated by remembering that, after dropping two sizes, she had to buy all new clothes.

A secret to her success is that she doesn’t fool herself about her progress.

“When doing the challenge I wrote everything down and I was really honest with myself about my portion sizes,” she said.

One Fit Mama’s Fittest Mama Challenge begins Jan. 5. Winners will be announced April 15 at a celebration in North Wales.

For information, visit www.onefitmama.com.