Healthy Eating Resolutions for the New Year

For most of us, New Year’s resolutions are related to health—more specifically weight loss. After the heavy meals of the holiday season, you might be more than ready to dive into healthier eating. Still, you should set some specific goals so you can make changes that last for the whole year.

Snack differently

Snacking is the main reason many people have a hard time staying on track with healthy eating. Most conventional snack foods in convenient snack sized packages are calorie-packed and lack any real nutrition. Instead of reaching for vending machine options like these, make your own snacks to-go with individually portioned nuts, homemade kale chips, or fresh fruit.

Eat more fruits and veggies

Most fresh fruits and vegetables are as guilt-free as you can get with your food choices. If you are not eating enough produce in your regular diet, you should set a goal to try a new fruit or veggie each week. You can accomplish this by cooking meals at home and adding vegetables to dishes that would otherwise be much less nutritious. Pasta dishes, pizza, and stir fry are all great go-to dishes for packing in the veggies.

Consume mindfully

Mindless eating can get you into trouble when you want to manage your weight, because you may be consuming hundreds more calories than you realize. Late-night hours are typically the worst for mindless snacking, which means you may need to set some times that your kitchen is off-limits. If you can’t live without your late-night ice cream or chips, get a serving ready early in the day when you are thinking more clearly and remember to account for this snack when you think about your other food choices during the day.

Healthy eating does not have to leave you feeling deprived. Small, simple changes can make a big difference that will help you set a New Year’s resolution you’ll actually keep.