“This is the year I’m going to change everything about my diet. I’m going to lose weight and be healthy.”
It’s easy to say you want to eat healthy on New Year’s Eve, but sticking with your nutritional goals can be challenging as the months pass by. In this case, willpower is about depriving yourself of certain foods. Nobody can get excited about that, and it just leads to bingeing. Keeping up with an extreme new year’s resolution is just not easy, no matter how good the intention.
Instead, making small changes in your diet and exercise will reap more significant rewards and make easier habit changes. Here is how you can eat clean in the new year and actually stick to it.
Eat Breakfast
Skipping breakfast only makes you hungrier later in the day and slows your metabolism down. For those who struggle to eat in the morning, start the day with a little bit of yogurt and fruit or wholegrain cereal with low-fat milk. Please note that there are also people who fast intermittently and that may involve skipping breakfast and eating only during an 8-hour window later in the day. You can experiment with that 8-hour window. Timing is everything.
Don’t Skip Any Meals
If you have blood sugar issues, especially hypoglycemia, don’t skip any meals, not even snacks. We occasionally experience busy days where we forget to eat. However, try not to let more than five hours go by without eating. Waiting too long between meals can zap your energy and lead to overeating later. Try to eat a healthy snack between lunch and dinner so you’ll be less likely to snack on unhealthy food once you get home.
Start Fresh
This new year is not only an excellent fresh start for yourself but also for your refrigerator and pantry. Clean up your kitchen by getting rid of junk and expired food items. Make space for clean energy and fresh and healthy food in your cupboards.
Plan Ahead
Making time to exercise and prepare healthy meals takes planning (and practice). If you make time for it, you’ll find it’s easier to stick with it. Create a menu and write out a shopping list before you go to the supermarket. It’s easier to keep to your nutrition goals when shopping with a list.
Be Realistic About Your Goals
Having a realistic, measurable plan will keep you motivated. Be specific. Instead of saying, “I’m going to lose weight,” set a goal to lose 3 pounds in one month. And instead of giving up sweets entirely, rather eat dessert three times a week instead of seven.
If your nutrition plan includes realistic goals, you’ll be more likely to achieve them. If you need help reaching your goals or have tried the previous year without getting the results you wanted, get in touch with me, and let’s get you on the right track.
[RECIPE] CREAMY PUMPKIN MOUSSE WITH MAPLE WHIPPED CREAM
This recipe is gluten and refined sugar-free.
Prep time: 10 minutes + time to chill
Serves: 4
Ingredients (choose organic where possible):
- 1-pint heavy whipping cream
- 6 T. real maple syrup, divided
- 1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened, cubed
- 2 T. pumpkin pie spice
- 1 t. real vanilla extract
- 1/3 c. half & half
Optional:
- Pecan halves
- Ground cinnamon, for dusting
- Ginger Snap cookies, for serving
Directions:
- Beat the heavy whipping cream in a large bowl with a hand mixer until it doubles in size. Add 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and continue beating until light and fluffy. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Beat the pumpkin purée, cream cheese, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, half & half, and remaining maple syrup in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer until thoroughly blended.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired, and transfer to individual dessert bowls. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
- To serve, remove from refrigerator and top with maple whipped cream, pecans, and sprinkle of ground cinnamon, if desired. Enjoy!
To Your Health,
Patti
