Pinnacle Prevention
  • Home
  • About
  • Our Work
    • Arizona Food Systems Network
    • Arizona's Local Food Partnership
    • Double Up Food Bucks Arizona
    • Farmers Market Nutrition Program >
      • Farmers Market Nutrition Program - ESPAÑOL
    • Joyful Movement
    • Local Food Movers
    • Pots to Love
    • Purchase Local Arizona
    • RFSI Grant
    • Seeds to Grow
    • Trauma and Resilience Informed Systems Change
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • Job Opportunities

What's On Our Hearts and Minds​

Practicing mindful and healthy habits during the holiday season

11/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The holiday season is right around the corner! Few things warm our hearts more than families gathering for shared meals and creating meaningful memories over the next two months.
​
Sometimes the stress of the holidays can feel overwhelming, but there are plenty of ways you and your family can remain mindful of healthy habits during this holiday season.

1. Get the kids in the kitchen.

This year, give your loved ones the gift of better connecting with the food they eat. Derek Hersch, the author of a public health study for the CDC, says that getting kids involved with cooking helps them develop a positive relationship with food and can make them more likely to make healthier food choices. 

Cooking with your kids allows you to start a dialogue about eating habits, and is also a great way to get them to try new foods. Kids are more likely to eat something they helped prepare. Check out these suggestions for what your children can safely help with in the kitchen at various age levels, and get some inspiration for kid-friendly recipe ideas.
​
Take this time to tell stories, laugh, and bond with your loved ones over the joy of preparing holiday meals. You and your family will remember these magical moments – and these healthy habits – for years to come. 
2. Eat the food you love!

Nothing should stop you from enjoying your favorite holiday treats. Practicing mindful eating throughout the season allows you to eat what you want and still feel your best. Mindful eating is not a diet, but rather a practice that focuses on fostering a healthy relationship with food and eating. Mindful eaters pay close attention to when they are hungry and full, what kinds of foods they like or dislike and why, and how meals make them feel.
​
It’s all about knowing when you’re hungry, and enjoying everything in moderation. Don’t hesitate when you see that plate full of cookies, unless of course you have a health or dietary restriction. If you want one, eat it – just try not to devour the entire plate. Denying yourself the foods you enjoy can lead to overindulgence and guilt later on. Take a small portion of everything you love, and only eat when you’re actually hungry. If the cookies are brought out once you’re already full, don’t force yourself to have one. The food will still be there when you get hungry again!

3. Put the food away when everyone is finished.

Creating a beautiful display of the food you spent all day cooking up is common around the holidays. Why not show off your hard work? Just don’t leave it out for too long. According to a study conducted by Charles Spence of Oxford University, vision has a lot to do with eating habits. Constantly looking at food can cause you to want more, even if you are already full. After everyone is full, make it a group effort to put the food in the refrigerator or pantry.
 
​
Healthy habits can be carried over into any season to keep you and your loved ones feeling their best. Keep these tips in mind over the next few months to have your happiest, healthiest holiday season yet! 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Pinnacle Prevention Blog

    Follow our blog for tips, insights and conversations about healthy living.

    Archives

    April 2025
    November 2024
    September 2024
    June 2024
    August 2023
    May 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016

    Categories

    All
    Active Living
    Activity
    Agriculture
    Bicycling
    Bike Lanes
    Biking
    Body Image
    Breastfeeding
    Community
    Complete Streets
    Environmentally Friendly
    Family
    Family Friendly
    Farm Bill
    Farmers
    Farming
    Farm To School
    Food Security
    Food Systems
    Food Waste
    Health
    Healthy Habits
    Heat
    Hiking
    Holidays
    Hunger
    Kids
    Legislature
    Local Economy
    Malnutrition
    Nonprofit
    Nutrition
    Outdoors
    Parks
    Policy
    Public Spaces
    Public Transportation
    Resources
    Safety
    Schools
    Self Care
    SNAP
    Staying Active
    Sustainability
    Trails
    Transportation
    Volunteer
    Walkability
    Walking
    Women


Location


484 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85225


​480.307.6360
[email protected]

Picture
  • Home
  • About
  • Our Work
    • Arizona Food Systems Network
    • Arizona's Local Food Partnership
    • Double Up Food Bucks Arizona
    • Farmers Market Nutrition Program >
      • Farmers Market Nutrition Program - ESPAÑOL
    • Joyful Movement
    • Local Food Movers
    • Pots to Love
    • Purchase Local Arizona
    • RFSI Grant
    • Seeds to Grow
    • Trauma and Resilience Informed Systems Change
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • Job Opportunities