Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution to be healthier or lose weight in the new year?  Most people would say yes. It is important to start forming healthy habits and if you are more motivated at the beginning of the year when there are less temptations, then that is a great time to start.  What we eat and drink can affect our body’s ability to fight infections, as well as how likely we are to develop health problems later in life, including Obesity, Heart Disease, Diabetes and different types of Cancer.

Here are a few tips to remember as you start your Healthier Habits for the New Year:

•  Eat a Variety of Food – Our bodies are complex and no single food contains all the nutrients we need to keep them working at their very best.  The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 recommend consuming a healthy, balanced diet with protein, grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and oils.

• Add Exercise to your daily routine.  Work and personal life can make it seem impossible, but even fitting small exercise breaks into your schedule helps keep your body healthy. For example, stretch for 15 minutes after waking in the morning, or take a 10-minute walk during your lunch break.  Try to see exercise as a way to improve sleep, improve mood, and become stronger and prevent diseases. 

• Create a Support System. Find someone (spouse, child, friend, sibling) to help you stay on track and to help make lifestyle change more fun (i.e. a workout buddy, someone to exchange recipe ideas with) and someone to share successes and challenges with!

• Commit to One Change in Eating.  Try to find one thing to change at a time.  For example – changing sweet beverages to unsweet beverages or add 1 extra serving of fruit and vegetables to your day.

• Think Improvement, Not Perfection.  Your changes do not have to be perfect, you are just aiming to be better than you had been.

• Don’t Stress Over Meals. Focus on having meals together as a family vs. stressing about how fancy the food is! Combining some pre-made foods with home cooked sides can help you prepare meals quickly on busy weeknights.

• Don’t Go Hungry. Maintain regular meals and snacks. Do not starve yourself to save up for one big meal as this can slow down your metabolism and make it hard to lose weight.

If you have any further questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact your dietician today!