AVAC Blog
Mindful Nutrition Tips for the Holidays
The holiday season is here—a time for gathering with loved ones, enjoying festive traditions, and, of course, being surrounded by an abundance of delicious food. But if you’re feeling anxious about staying on track with your healthy eating habits, you’re not alone. In fact, overindulging is a concern for 39% of Americans during this time of year.
To help you navigate holiday meals without stress, we spoke with AVAC’s nutritionist, Jen Comartin, who has been in the health and wellness space for fifteen years, about her strategies for helping clients survive the holidays while staying mindful of nutrition goals.
According to Jen, there are a few things we can do:
Reframe Your Mindset: Big holiday meals, like Thanksgiving dinner, are meant to be enjoyed—and it’s okay to do so. Remember, the holiday is about one special meal, not an entire season of overindulgence. When we let a single day of celebration snowball into weeks of overindulgence, we start to compromise healthy eating habits.
Don’t Skip Meals: It might seem counterintuitive, but skipping meals to ‘save up’ calories can lead to overeating. Instead, go about your day as usual, fueling your body with nutritious meals. You can always incorporate healthy swaps throughout the day, like eating a kale salad instead of a sandwich, to get more nutrition before dinner and help you feel more satisfied. Going into your big holiday meal hungry will ultimately lead you to overindulge.
Bring a Healthy Dish: If you’re attending Thanksgiving dinner and want to ensure you have a healthy dish, offer to bring one! One of Jen’s favorite side dishes is a brussel sprout and kale Caesar salad. It's nutrient-dense and a great way to load up on antioxidants and fiber, helping you stay full.
Limit Appetizers: If you want to indulge in fun, less nutrition-dense foods during dinner, try limiting appetizers. You may even want to stand on the opposite end of the room so you’re less likely to graze.
No Bad Food: While it's true that some foods are more nutritious than others, labeling certain foods as "bad" can be harmful. This kind of thinking can lead to feelings of guilt and shame, making it harder to maintain a healthy relationship with food. When you’re building your dinner plate, load up on protein and veggies first and then add in the fun, less nutritionally dense foods.
Take a pause: Instead of rushing through your meal, take your time to savor the meal in front of you and the people around you. Use the pauses to converse with the table and enjoy the company of loved ones; ultimately, it’s a table of people, not food.
Enjoy, Reset: If you happen to overindulge, it's okay. A single meal doesn’t define your journey and won’t compromise your progress. Hit the reset button at your next meal.
We hope these tips empower you to navigate the holiday season with confidence and ease, focusing on mindful eating and balanced choices. If you’d like to speak with Jen further about your nutrition goals or schedule an assessment, contact her via email at [email protected].
AVAC Swim School 4th Annual Floating Pumpkin Patch
While San Jose may still be basking in the warmth of sunny fall days, the Halloween spirit is in full swing at AVAC with our 4th Annual Floating Pumpkin Patch!
For one more weekend, AVAC Swim School is transforming its heated indoor pool into a spooktacular sight with a floating pumpkin patch! Families can dive in, enjoy a swim together, and pick the perfect pumpkin to take home. Don’t miss out on this family-friendly tradition—there’s only one weekend left to join in on the fun!
Create Unforgettable Memories
AVAC started this fun event to give families a unique pumpkin-picking opportunity that promotes both movement and togetherness. By combining the excitement of Halloween with the physical activity of swimming, we hope kids will be inspired to have a lifelong love of the water. This event is also a chance for the adults to take an active role in their child’s swimming development.
We also wanted to create an event that the whole family can enjoy together since we understand the challenge of finding activities that are appealing to all ages. We hope this event becomes a cherished tradition for your family, providing years of fun and lasting memories.
Making Swimming Fun Year-Round
Beyond making memories, our Floating Pumpkin Patch offers a unique opportunity to enhance your child's swimming development. It's a fun alternative to traditional pumpkin patches and a great way to reinforce the swimming skills they've learned in swim class.As your child splashes around in our pumpkin-filled pool, they'll develop positive experiences in the water and build confidence in their swimming abilities. This playful activity is a fantastic way to foster a lifelong love of swimming and a desire to continue to hone their water skills.
How to Join the Fun
The last weekend for the AVAC Floating Pumpkin Patch is Oct 26th & 27th from 4:20 pm–5:00 pm.
AVAC members,Swim School, and JrFit families may reserve their spots by calling the Swim School at 408.267.4032 or visiting the front desk. All participants must be registered to enjoy the fun.
Cost:
1st enrollment $40
2nd enrollment $20
Under 12 months Free (still needs to be enrolled)
What to Bring:
• Swimsuits: For everyone who plans to enter the water.
• Towels: To dry off after your swim.
• Camera: Feel free to take photos of your little one(s) picking out their pumpkin.
• Family: Share the fun with your loved ones!
Since we began this tradition four years ago, we've been thrilled to offer our members this unique experience. It's heartwarming to see the smiles on kids' faces as they explore the water and pick pumpkins to bring home; and parents will love the opportunity to enjoy a Halloween activity that's less focused on sugary candy and still brings out the same level of excitement!
We Can’t Wait to See You There!