It’s the beginning of November, and the 2015 holiday season is right around the corner. Can you believe it? Despite popular belief, this doesn’t mean your fitness has to go out the window. Here are five of my favorite, easy-to-follow tips for maintaining nutritional and exercise goals during the time of year when stress and LOTS of not so healthy food can take their toll on all of us.

Healthy stews are nutritious, comforting and totally delicious! You can click here to see a recipe for my favorite kick-butt soup.

1). Adopt healthy eating and exercise habits now, so that by time holiday craziness rolls around, you’re already in a routine. The anti-stress and energy benefits from this type of lifestyle are especially healthy during holiday time.

2). Know that it’s OK to splurge on your favorite treats, as long as you get back into your normal routine. Everything in moderation!

3). Join an exercise class, such as a Pilates or spin group, at your local gym. This can help keep you enthusiastic to work out, and puts you in company of other encouraging, like-minded people when it comes to health.

4). To keep up with exercise goals while traveling, learn some work outs that don’t require lots of extra equipment. Body weight work outs (push ups, squats, crunches, planks, tricep dips) are great for this purpose.

5). Pack nutritional, filling snacks to eat on the go. Even if you happen to stray a little bit from nutrition or exercise goals, you can at least keep your snacking on track. I’m a big fan of KIND snack bars because they’re gluten free, all natural and contain five grains, which makes them both filling and yummy.

BONUS: For those of you who haven’t previously downloaded my Holiday Deliciousness cookbook, you can get it by clicking here. It’s filled with some of my favorite recipes–perfect for the holiday season–that also happen to have a healthier twist that traditional recipes.

Raspberry truffle pie from my “Holiday Deliciousness” cookbook

Meals and food are such a big part of our holiday traditions, and to honor traditions is important for our families’ and friends’ memories. We are not about “throwing the baby out with the bath water;” we are about gently introducing new ways of celebrating family and friend holiday traditions without adding extra fanfare and stress.

I hope that you’ve gained some insights on my healthy living philosophy, and I’d love to read some of your tips and thoughts in the comments.

Living and loving life together,

Mitzi