At New Years, people often make grand plans for huge dietary upheavals. Sadly when we try to make changes that are massively different from the status quo, they often fail. :(
How to succeed?
Start as you wish to continue! Make small, sustainable changes to your diet. Plan to make changes that you can do forever. The problem with going on a diet is that one day you go off it again. Instead, start as you wish to continue. No diets, no restrictions....just healthier eating that you can maintain.
Nothing breed success, like success so set a small goal you can easily achieve. Once achieved, set another!
Think about your motivation. What's in it for you to become healthier? Look good, feel good, have energy to play with your kids, reduce your risk of illness, be a good role model?
With this in mind, here are my top tips for a healthier year:
Be colourful!
Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables everyday. Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients. So eating a traffic light of colour (red, orange, green) each lunch and dinner increases the range of nutrients your body needs to function at it's best.
Think of how many serves of colourful fruits and vegetables you are currently eating. One serves equals a medium piece of fruit, half cup of cooked veggies or a cup of salad veggies. Whatever you eating now try to increase your intake by just one serve.
If you currently eat one piece of fruit per day, increase it to two. If you only have 2 different colours on your dinner plate, increase it to three. If you currently eat veggies 5 times a week, increase it to 6.
Introduce meat free Mondays (or another day of the week that suits you). On this day enjoy eggs, lentils, tofu or beans into your meal. Try a tofu stir-fry, frittata or use a can of lentils (drained) in place of meat in your spaghetti sauce.
Read my Be colourful blog post for more practical information on increasing colours.
Be organised
Buy enough fruits and veggies to last the whole week.
Have a frozen back-up. Frozen veggies, meals, berries are great when you don't have fresh.
Start planning your meals. Read about meal planning.
Happy New Year and this year make a small (sustainable) resolution.
How to succeed?
Start as you wish to continue! Make small, sustainable changes to your diet. Plan to make changes that you can do forever. The problem with going on a diet is that one day you go off it again. Instead, start as you wish to continue. No diets, no restrictions....just healthier eating that you can maintain.
Nothing breed success, like success so set a small goal you can easily achieve. Once achieved, set another!
Think about your motivation. What's in it for you to become healthier? Look good, feel good, have energy to play with your kids, reduce your risk of illness, be a good role model?
With this in mind, here are my top tips for a healthier year:
Be colourful!
Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables everyday. Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients. So eating a traffic light of colour (red, orange, green) each lunch and dinner increases the range of nutrients your body needs to function at it's best.
Think of how many serves of colourful fruits and vegetables you are currently eating. One serves equals a medium piece of fruit, half cup of cooked veggies or a cup of salad veggies. Whatever you eating now try to increase your intake by just one serve.
If you currently eat one piece of fruit per day, increase it to two. If you only have 2 different colours on your dinner plate, increase it to three. If you currently eat veggies 5 times a week, increase it to 6.
Introduce meat free Mondays (or another day of the week that suits you). On this day enjoy eggs, lentils, tofu or beans into your meal. Try a tofu stir-fry, frittata or use a can of lentils (drained) in place of meat in your spaghetti sauce.
Read my Be colourful blog post for more practical information on increasing colours.
Be organised
Buy enough fruits and veggies to last the whole week.
Have a frozen back-up. Frozen veggies, meals, berries are great when you don't have fresh.
Start planning your meals. Read about meal planning.
Happy New Year and this year make a small (sustainable) resolution.
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