Remember that New Year’s resolution you set last year? How did it go?
“Well, there’s always next year… ”
Doh! Another year, another excuse.
The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that there’s generally an objective without a sustainable plan. We know what we want to achieve but we think that we don’t have the resources – the time, the money or the determination – to get there.
Take healthy eating, for example. It would sure be easy to eat healthier if we had a personal chef, right? Or an unlimited budget to subscribe to a healthy meal service.
Well you don’t need either of those!
The key to healthy eating is just planning your food in advance. Pick your least hectic day of the week – maybe Sunday – and make a list of snacks/meals for your upcoming week.
For work or school lunches, I suggest sticking to eating small, healthy snacks every few hours. A big meal is foremost a huge pain to make, and secondly it’ll hit you hard and suck up your energy.
Here’s some ideas for healthy week-day snacks:
• Veggies and hummus
• Non-fat Greek yogurt with berries and granola
• Almonds or cashews
• Low-sugar (less than 20 grams) protein bars
• Apples and almond butter
• Tangerines
• Bananas
• Lunchmeat slices
• Hard-boiled eggs
• String cheese
• Avocados
No time for breakfast?
But breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Try making a smoothie: All you need is 1 cup of ice, a scoop (or two) of protein powder, 1 banana (or another fruit) and 1 cup of almond milk or coconut water.
If you’re not a fan of smoothies, I would highly suggest oatmeal. You can microwave it while you’re getting ready in the morning, and it’ll give you lasting energy throughout the day. Add some fruit for extra fiber.
Alright, it’s the end of the day. You’re tired, hungry and you just want something EASY.
“Easy” doesn’t have to mean a drive-thru restaurant, and it surely doesn’t have to mean bailing on your New Year’s goals.
There’s tons of easy meals you can make at home. If you have a free night during the week, or some time on the weekend, you can meal prep all at once with something like Healthy Make-Ahead Egg-McMuffins, Slow Cooker Meatloaf or Pork Quinoa Burrito Bowls.
But don’t panic if you can’t meal prep beforehand. There’s several healthy meals you can make at home – quickly – with few ingredients.
Consider these easy dinners:
• Salads with meat or tuna
• Omelets
• Stir frys
• Fish and veggies
• Meat and sweet potatoes
• Lettuce wraps
When you’re considering eating healthier this next year, think about buying staple foods and working with what’s available in your kitchen – rather than overwhelming yourself with planning out full recipes.
Click here for healthy grocery ideas.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Every lifestyle change comes with a learning curve and no one can eat perfect on a daily basis. It’s all about finding balance and eating healthy most of the time.
Healthy eating tips:
• Drink more water.
• Fill up on veggies.
• Try a food journal, such as My Fitness Pal.
• Read the nutrition label on pre-packaged snacks.
• Don’t skip meals.
• Research your menu options before dining out.
Happy 2017!
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