It’s that time of the year. The air is crisp and smells like snow. Trees, bushes and buildings are all lit up, and people are much nicer to each other than usual. It’s the holidays. But nothing puts you in a festive mood faster than one thing: mom’s pecan pie.

The delicious and fattening array of food some of us wait for every year is finally here. Before you dive into the bowl of mashed potatoes with reckless abandon, here’s a few helpful and easy tactics you can use to keep you from piling on the pounds.

Even if you don’t have access to the gym or the slopes this season, staying active doesn’t need to be formal. According to lovetoknow.com, 30 minutes walking through the mall is all you need to make a difference,. And Glamour magazine says that just 15 minutes of shoveling the snow in your driveway can burn 100 calories – the equivalent of a one-mile jog.

Are you preparing for a family get-together where you’re bound to indulge? Exercise first to speed up your metabolism and fight off those fattening calories. “Whenever I am planning on eating a lot, I start running at least three to four times a week,” junior journalism major Trevor Ruben said.

Eating a healthy snack before going grocery shopping will prevent you from raiding the Betty Crocker shelf. Water also curbs cravings, so keep a bottle handy when browsing the aisles.

Always keep this golden rule in mind: what happens at the party stays at the party. If you’ll be attending a lot of holiday parties where you plan to splurge on cookies, prepare healthier alternatives to enjoy at home. Cookinglight.com offers many healthy recipes that don’t taste like diet food and include

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