It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only one week away! Time really flies, so make sure you are making this next week count, such as eating really clean or getting in some extra exercise time, because before you know it you will be faced with one of the biggest meals of the year. Whether you are preparing to host, bringing a dish or attending dinner in someone else’s home, there are a couple dishes and sides that can be great options for a healthy and yummy holiday. Here are some tips and tricks for making healthy Thanksgiving dishes.

This is the time of year when warm, hearty foods can bring comfort and good feelings in the cold months. You may even associate this time of the year with certain foods, like casseroles during the holidays. You can’t imagine a November without turkey or a December without a special feast. The same can be said for more day-to-day wants and needs that food may fulfill. When you’re stressed do you reach for treats or snacks? When you’re bored do you open the pantry? When you’ve completed a difficult task do you crave your favorite food? Ask yourself – are you living to eat, or eating to live? When you live to eat, you indulge in foods that make you feel comfortable, relieve your stress or boredom, or reward an accomplishment. You eat something because of how you feel emotionally instead of the physical hunger you feel when your body needs fuel. On the other hand, when you eat to live you provide your body with nourishment that fuels and supports your health.

It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. The Halloween decorations just came down and now another holiday is already around the corner. This is going to be a very busy time, but you should use these next two weeks to prepare for the four day feast.

Now that fall is in full swing there may be things about your daily life and routine have changed since the warmer weather, but one thing that should always stay the same is drinking water consistently throughout the day. In the summertime it is easy to tell when you’re getting dehydrated, and nothing cools you down like a tall glass of ice water. But in the fall and winter months we are less inclined to drink water. It may feel like the last thing you want is something cold to drink, but the effects of dehydration can really take a toll in the colder months. In colder temperatures, your body will focus more on maintaining its core temperature and less on fluid balance. You body won’t alert you when it needs water as often as it should, so you have to take the initiative and stay hydrated.

As the temperature drops, you may find it harder and harder to get out and exercise. Just thinking about getting outdoors or getting in your car when it’s dark and cold out can make you want to stay inside until spring, but just because you don’t leave the house that doesn’t mean you can’t get in a workout.

By now you have probably heard, read or been told to drink warm lemon water as part of your weight loss plan and for a healthy life in general, but do you really know why? Just 12 oz of hot or warm water with lemon each day can offer you a long list of benefits that will keep you body healthy inside and out.

Halloween is finally here! Time for the full-on rush of kids in costumes, trick or treating and bags full of candy. It’s been on our radar for a couple weeks, but now it’s time to talk about a real plan for this weekend. It’s going to be difficult managing your own eating habits in the next few days, and even more stressful if you’re going to be dealing with over-excited kids hopped up on sugar.

Dining out or ordering in from a restaurant can help save time and energy on a busy night, but it can also make it hard to find the right dish that fits into your weight loss plan. It can be difficult to navigate a menu full of sauces, pastas, cheeses, breads, and fried foods. But you still have a choice. Don’t think a meal is out of your control because you’re picking from a menu that wasn’t make with your fitness in mind. Here are some tips for eating outside your home.

Just because you’re eating healthy that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on this season’s popular dishes. There are so many recipes that can work just the way they are or can be tweaked slightly to become healthier versions. Butternut Squash Soup is a classic that just needs a few adjustments. You can use olive oil and soymilk instead of butter, and vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. Be sure to include onion, celery, carrot and even a green apple for their added benefits and more flavor.

With this season comes many new opportunities to have a happy and healthy fall. The changing leaves and cool weather are just a few reasons to get outside. Hiking, walking, and biking are great ways to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family, or to take some time for yourself. Activities like these help improve your cardio-vascular health and muscle fitness while lowering your risk of some cancers and heart disease, all while helping you reach your weight loss goals. Whether you head to a state park, bike trail or stay in your neighborhood, take advantage of the beautiful weather! Be sure to stay warm and safe out there, such as wearing weather proof clothing for rainy days and something reflective now that it will be getting darker earlier.