Courtesy USDA/www.myplate.gov
Many New Year’s resolutions are goals to eat healthier and get in better shape.
The first week may go well, but hectic schedules and missteps often fall short of those lofty expectations. Caitlin Ferrin, nutritionist at Midwest grocery store Fairway, said setting more realistic goals may be key to achieving the most goals after January 1st. I’m here.
“Stop saying ‘no,'” Ferrin said. “What do you mean? We want you to say yes to including more nutritious items instead of diet and health trends that encourage you to say no to specific foods or entire food groups.” Think about what you can add to each meal and every snack to make this more nutritious. “
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Ferin says that weight is often the benchmark when it comes to setting New Year’s resolutions, but setting better goals can lead to less data-driven goals.
“I encourage people to pay attention to how their clothes fit, what their energy levels are, how they feel, etc.,” Ferrin said. Other benchmarks such as composition and blood tests can be good indicators of how your body is responding to change.”
When you want to change your diet, add fruits and vegetables to your dinner plate. Finding healthier foods is important, but aggressively trying to cut elements such as carbohydrates and fats from your diet may not be sustainable.
“Through experience, I’ve seen that these types of diets are not sustainable and that the weight lost is often regained,” Ferrin said. The feeling of being overwhelmed is not healthy, either mentally or physically.While portion control is important, we do not recommend cutting out entire foods or food groups unless it is necessary for allergies or medical reasons. ”
She suggested thinking of ways to make every meal and snack a little more nutritious. Add lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables to your sandwich. When eating a hearty dinner such as steak or potatoes, add a side salad or use Greek yogurt on the potatoes.
If you snack during the day, use hummus or guacamole to add protein to your meal.
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