It’s a New Year! Each new year brings with it a new opportunity to hit the reset button on our bad habits and start making healthier choices. Especially after all the indulging many of us do over the holidays, sometimes a nice reset is just what we need. This year, instead of stressing about any extra pounds from the holidays, try focusing on making some healthy changes to your diet for the year to come? With just a little planning, dedication, and some simple substitutions, you can be on your way to a New Year, New (Healthier) You. Here are some things to consider:
A Healthy Kitchen Staple
To keep our foods flavorful, we often use spreads and condiments that add needed flavor, but also come with unwanted additives and sugars. An easy change to make in 2023 is to substitute that ketchup, mustard, peanut butter, hot sauce, and more with a super flavorful superfood packed with protein: tahini. A popular ingredient mostly known for its use in hummus, tahini is made from ground sesame seeds, carrying a delicious and complex flavor that complements any dish to which it’s added. Commonly found in tubs for scooping, tahini can also be found in easy-to-use squeeze bottles by Mighty Sesame Co., which make it simple to drizzle over foods or squeeze into recipes.
Fresh Herbs for Clean Flavor
Something you may or may not know is that our foods don’t get their nutritional benefits just from the larger ingredients – herbs carry their own benefits and can be used to make food both clean and flavorful. A small change you can make this year is in the flavoring of your foods using fresh herbs. While dried herbs carry a bit of the plants’ nutrition, the process causes some of this nutritional value, as well as some of the flavor, to diminish. Instead of the usual shakers of garlic powder and dried basil, try adding fresh ingredients, which can be grown in a backyard or window, or found at farmer’s markets and more. Of course, fresh herbs can be tough to keep fresh, especially in the cold months, so frozen herbs are a great way to maintain that full flavor and nutrition and be able to enjoy it any time of year. Pre-portioned trays of flash-frozen fresh herbs by Dorot Gardens make fresh ingredients more accessible and easier to use than ever.
Healthy Drinks That Taste Amazing
To save sugar and empty calories, drink substitutions can be a fantastic choice, as the unhealthy contents of our beverages can add up before we even realize. Instead of sipping on processed and sugar-filled drinks, you can create your own beverages that are full of amazing flavor. With a juicer and some fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs, even long-time favorite bottled drinks of sugar and additives can’t stand up to the incredible flavor. But if juicing is a bit more work than you’re looking for, or if you don’t have space for a juicer, the best flavorful drink for your health is a cold-pressed juice made from all-natural fruit and veggie ingredients. Look out for brands that use whole, organic ingredients like Beetology, to ensure you’re getting the greatest benefits and the most flavor.
Avoid Processed Foods
As people resolve to make healthy changes in their diet for the new year, processed foods should be avoided. Processed foods are those that have been treated with preservatives and additives or altered from their original state. These kinds of food can be high in calories, sugar, fat and sodium while providing little nutritional value.
Processed foods can also contain harmful chemicals, artificial sweeteners and trans fats which all contribute to weight gain, inflammation, diabetes, and heart disease. Instead of reaching for a pre-packaged meal or snack, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables along with lean proteins such as chicken or fish. Not only will these healthier options provide necessary nutrients, but they can also help you lose weight if desired.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead for your new year diet changes is one of the most important steps you can take. When trying to eat healthier, it’s important to plan out your meals and snacks in advance. This will help ensure that you stick with the healthy eating plan and avoid any unhealthy temptations.
Start by taking stock of what food items you already have at home so that you don’t end up buying unnecessary items or foods that aren’t part of your new diet. You should also look into meal planning services or meal kits that can provide a variety of healthy options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to make mealtimes easier. Planning ahead will not only save time but also money since it eliminates the need to purchase ingredients multiple times throughout the week.
Making sure you are prepared with healthy meals is key to having a successful New Year diet change.
Conclusion: Start 2023 Right
January of 2023: the start of a new year and a perfect time to make healthy changes in your diet! The New Year is often an opportunity to make resolutions and promises to oneself, the most popular of which being changes in diet. Eating healthier can be easier than you think; it just requires dedication, perseverance and determination.
Adjusting your current eating habits can help promote better health and well-being. Prioritizing nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and heart-healthy fats is essential for any dietary change. Additionally, limiting unhealthy processed snacks as well as sugary drinks will set yourself up for success. Lastly, staying hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day is also important when looking to improve health through dieting.
