Picture Of The Day | Make Your Meal Colorful A pale looking meal probably means you are not ingesting nutrient rich foods. Try adding a new colour once a week or once every other week to your plate. Vegetables such as yam, spinach, beets or broccoli pack a nutrient punch while adding vibrancy to your dinner plate. · Switch it up Our bodies crave a sugar boost every now and then, but indulging in candy is not the answer. Fake, processed foods are high in glucose-fructose and fat, leaving you satisfied for a moment but eventually lead to a low. When your body craves sugar, give it the real stuff. Swap out your 10 cent candies for dried fruit pieces or fresh fruit. This will satisfy your sugar craving while injecting your body with the healthy stuff. · Cook at Home Cooking at home not only saves you money in the long run but it also saves you calories. You will save time by planning ahead. Make a menu for the week on a Sunday. By creating your meals at home, you will also know what is going in your mouth. · Plan a Party With the changing of the seasons come a change in vegetables and fruit. Hosting a “seasonal tasting party” gives you an excuse to get together with your closest friends and to create a new dish with the season’s greatest bounty. Be creative and have fun! · Grow Your Own Garden No matter where you live, the climate will yield some sort of garden. By growing your own vegetables (tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, pumpkin), you will have access to your very own farmer’s market. There is no greater excuse to eat anti-oxidant rich foods than growing an abundance of them on your property. · Buy In Bulk Purchasing your staple dry items, such as whole grain pasta, in bulk will help save money over the long run and ensure you have a healthy stock for a home-cooked meal. Just make sure that you will eat your purchase. There is no sense in wasting food and money. · Preserve Is there anything sweeter than home-made jam? Learn the process of jarring/canning your own tomato sauce and jams. By doing this, you not only will save money and calories, but it will also teach you a lifelong skill. · Read Labels Learning to read nutritional labels is the best way to feed your brain with information. By doing this, you can compare and contrast one brand from another and be able to make wise alternate choices. It is normal to feel discouraged if you fall off the resolution band-wagon. One thing to keep in mind is one bad day does not constitute a failure. Start again the next day. Trying any one of these tips will help you achieve your new year’s and new you goal. MissyG |