What Do You Want For The New Year?

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed a healthy, happy and restful holiday season. I did, and I am ready to get back to a new year of The Dish.

It’s that time again…the time of year when people resolve to make a change at the beginning of the New Year. The changes could be anything from eating healthier, exercising more, learning how to budget, meditating more, etc. What do you want for 2018?

I’ve been thinking about this and there are a few things I would like to see in 2018. On the top of my list is to continue to increase the nutrition knowledge of anyone that reads this blog. I’ve written A LOT of blogs since starting this journey in 2016 and look forward to continuing in 2018. I have a few ideas of new topics to tackle; and as always, if you have any questions or topics you would like to learn more about, please let me know.

For my first blog of 2018, I would like to offer some nutrition-related resolutions that you may want to adopt in the New Year (try one or try them all):

1. Cook more. Try cooking more food at home and eating out less. Both your waistline and your wallet will thank you. Although there are healthy options at some restaurants, chances are you are eating more calories, fat, salt and sugar when you eat outside of the home. Involve the whole family and have each member choose at least one meal a week. If kids are old enough, let them help or cook the meal themselves. Cooking is one of the most important and useful skills to have!

2. Try new foods. Let 2018 be the year you try that weird vegetable or fruit you always stare at when at the grocery store. Break out of your food rut by scouring the grocery aisles for something new and interesting. Grocery shopping with children can help with picky eaters if you let them choose a new food for the family to try. When a new food is chosen, look for a healthy and tasty recipe that the whole family will enjoy. Your taste buds will thank you!

3. Eat more vegetables and fruit. Vegetables and fruit are nutrient powerhouses, naturally low in calories, fat, sugar and salt and high in fibre, minerals and vitamins. Most people do not eat enough vegetables and fruit. They should comprise at least half your plate at every meal. Whether they are fresh, frozen or canned, they are always a healthy choice. As per Health Canada, choose one dark green and one orange vegetable each day. Choose whole fruit over juice more often.

4. Drink less sugar. Canada’s Food Guide recommends that you satisfy your thirst with water and choose lower fat milk products or fortified soy beverages every day. Other beverages such as pop, sports drinks, energy drinks and fruit drinks contain lots of calories and are often low in nutrients. Resolve to eat more of your calories than drink them.

5. Eat as a family more often. If you don’t already, make 2018 the year you eat most meals together as a family. This doesn’t always have to mean you sit at the kitchen or dining table in your house…it may mean you plan an impromptu picnic in the park or grab-and-go foods in the vehicle on the way to extra-curricular activities. The main focus should be spending more time together and talking to each other. It may be one of the most important changes you make this year!

Whatever resolutions you make (or have made), resolve to make 2018 the year you put some thought into your nutritional health. If I can help you with that in any way, I will.

If you have any nutrition topics you would like me to write about or have a question you would like answered, email me at thedishonlcn@gmail.com. I would really like to hear from you!