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Nina’s Tips for a Fresh Start in 2018
“Eat healthy”… every year I make this resolution. But there must be a million different diets to choose from! How do I pick one?
The first thing I always tell people is that I’m not a doctor, I’m not a nutritionist, and I’m not going to pretend to be either! “Healthy” to me means a diet of nutrient-dense foods made from whole ingredients that incorporates all the food groups. It also means very little sugar, processed ingredients, and lots of vegetables! No diet is good for everyone, so if you’re concerned that you’re not eating the right foods for your unique body, see a doctor, naturopathic doctor, or registered dietician for a personalized plan.
How do I get started? I feel like it’s really hard to break old habits.
Yup, starting is the hardest part. It’s easy to talk about a diet plan and how you’re going to get started in a week, a month, etc. But actually taking the plunge is hard, and it takes time to establish a new routine. If you’re a person who needs to take baby steps, I suggest picking one meal a day where you generally make bad choices and committing to choosing new foods instead. Example: For lunch, hit the HL Salad Station for a week and create a plate full of colorful vegetables and healthy proteins. Just one meal is enough to feel a change in the way you react to food, and it’s a gentle approach that doesn’t leave you feeling deprived. Once you’ve got lunch on lock, move on to incorporate healthier choices at another meal. If you’re the kind of person who is better with a cold-turkey plan, 30 days is a good amount of time to really train yourself to make healthier choices. After 30 days you may cheat once in a while, but generally you will have re-trained your brain!
“Healthy” sounds so sad. What do I eat besides salad?
Oh no, this is where you are sorely mistaken. There is NO reason why healthy has to be a punishment. The world is full of amazing foods that are nutrient dense, delicious and leave you feeling amazing. Just cooking from scratch can get you going in the right direction. If you have a cookbook collection get it out and start exploring. Plan ahead and pick recipes for a week! Or subscribe to a food blog that you can get inspired ideas from every day. At this time of year I love making stews, curries, and other hearty dishes packed with flavor. I find creating exciting and healthy dishes to be a great kitchen adventure challenge!
