3 habits to start the New Year right! –by, Khushboo Jain
1. Avoid food based Resolutions
It is common for us to make resolutions that revolve around food around the new year. While there is nothing wrong with the intention, unfortunately, most resolutions often end up being restrictive to foods!
“Cut out carbs,” “No more dessert,” “no more sugar,” “No more meats,” etc.
Instead, try adding nutritious foods to your diet!
Try adding one of these Mediterranean diet foods consistently this month:
- Olive Oil
- Seafood
- Legumes (Beans, Lentils, etc.)
- Leafy green vegetables
2. MOVE into the New Year
Joining the gym or trying a new workout is a common new year resolution.
Don’t aim for perfection! Start SMALL and be consistent!
Set a movement goal for each day:
- “Adults should move 22 minutes every day
- Children should have 60 minutes of physical activity everyday
- Children (2-5 years of age) should have active play throughout their day.”
Drastic changes are hard to stick to and may not result in lasting success. Embrace that this process will be imperfect and some days will be better than others! Start anew every day!
3. Set SMART Goals
More than 50% of adults set new year’s resolutions, however studies have shown almost half of these adults don’t stay committed to the changes for more than a month!
“Studies show that individuals who write down their new year’s resolutions are 42% more likely to fulfill them!”
Increase your success rate by writing down your goals as a SMART Goal where you can see it every day:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
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Resources:
https://aging.ny.gov/news/snap-ed-new-york-new-year-time-new-you
https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/FamilyTimeActiveandFunHandouts.pdf
https://www.eatright.org/food/planning-and-prep/cooking-tips-and-trends/make-it-mediterranean