Another new year begins, and with the start of a new cycle, the desire to make some changes in our lives is always a premise. Who doesn’t reach midnight, eat twelve grapes, and make a wish for each one? The truth is, most of us await that moment, that turning of the year, with the hope and desire that a new year will bring a better version of ourselves. This year is going to be the one that echoes in our heads…
As we know, one of the main wishes often involves health, and in many cases, weight loss, among others.
From my point of view, these resolutions often fail, and many times, right in the first week of the year, because a mindset for lifestyle change hasn’t been created yet. Often, the mindset is quite the opposite; we allow ourselves to eat everything and in excess, with the premise that we will be healthy starting January 2nd.
Well… that usually doesn’t work. If your goal is to lose weight, have more health, more energy, more vitality, etc., don’t wait for the beginning of the year; start now, and make a difference during the holiday season. Remember that you will likely influence those around you. Start the New Year with the following resolution: I will maintain my healthy habits instead of: I will start to have healthy habits.
A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced, varied diet, physical exercise, and never forgetting mental well-being.
One of the fundamental points to achieving dietary balance is PLANNING. You’ve surely heard or read this as advice for other areas of life, and it’s no different for diet. How many times have you come home and, having nothing planned, ended up eating out or ordering in? On these occasions, without planning, often hungry and tired, the choice is never the best. So, opt to always have frozen vegetables, ready-made salads, boiled eggs, shredded frozen chicken, prepped frozen fish, cooked legumes, etc., at home.
This planning will help you stay focused on healthier eating habits, improve the variety and quality of your diet, free you from other worries, and promote family togetherness.
Ask for help and, as a family, set a weekly menu and create a shopping list. You’ll see it’s much easier. And don’t forget… never go shopping when you’re hungry; you’ll buy more things and many that you don’t need.
But it’s the holiday season, and so what? Nothing stops you from:
- Starting the day with a balanced breakfast
- Having small snacks of fruit and nuts, have cut fruit and nuts available on the table
- Beginning the main meal with vegetables
- Avoiding alcoholic beverages; if consumed, always accompany with water, alternating drinks
- Drinking water throughout the day; decorate your table with jugs of flavored water
- Opting to make desserts with olive oil
- Making simpler desserts, such as rice pudding
- Avoiding juices and soft drinks
- Taking family walks after meals
- Not overloading your plate; the “secret” is in the quantities
- Not leaving the table set between Christmas and New Year’s
- Not buying food in excess
Christmas lasts 2 days, the 24th and 25th. On the 26th, return to your planned meals 😉
And for New Year’s, follow the same advice, and you’ll start the new year with more balanced habits and not with the feeling of guilt from overeating during the holidays and the pressure of not being able to eat what you want.
Don’t know how to start? Are you apprehensive? Book your appointment with Erakulis nutritionists, who will help you plan your diet so you don’t see the holiday season as a difficulty but rather as a time of joy, togetherness, and peace. Take a look at our healthy recipes and enjoy this time without guilt.
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the authors. It’s not intended to replace professional advice, whether nutritional or otherwise. Before making any decisions based on what you read here, we recommend consulting with a qualified expert in the relevant field.
