Creating a Healthier U

You want to eat better. You know that. And now that the holidays are behind you – complete with the chocolate, cocktails and other indulgences – you’re keener than ever before to make changes in your life. The answer? Some nutrition-based New Year’s resolutions that will get you eating right in 2012.

But where do you start? As with any resolution, it’s best to make nutrition-based goals that are actually achievable. Choose small targets and make a real plan on how you’re going to make those happen. Maybe that involves researching recipes that fit your new lifestyle. Maybe it means setting up a menu of what your new diet will look like. Just remember – adding new challenges to your life doesn’t have to be a chore. Setting new goals can be fun.

You know where your own diet lacks and where your new nutrition priorities should lie, so create your nutrition resolutions around those dietary holes. Design a timeline to accomplish your goals, adding new challenges along the way to stay motivated. If you’re looking for ideas, try starting with the five nutrition-based resolutions below.

1. Say so long to dinners out – start cooking more at home.
How many times are you currently eating out each week – counting snacks and breakfasts too? Try to reduce that number by one each week; if you’re currently eating out five times a week, make it four, then three, and so on. Cook more meals at home and dedicate more time to preparing healthy foods so that you always have something to take with you and won’t have to succumb to the temptation of buying food when you’re out.

2. Make fibre your friend.
Fibre is an important part of any healthy diet. Make sure you get enough by eating more freshly ground flaxseeds, legumes, apples, pears, berries, fresh vegetables and avocados. Also, look into taking a fibre supplement such as U Fibre to help give your digestive tract some assistance in the waste removal process. But don’t forget to drink plenty of water with that fibre – follow your high-fibre meal or fibre supplement with a large glass of room temperature water to achieve the best results.

3. Incorporate fruits and vegetables into every meal.
Your mother had it right when she tried to get you to eat your fruits and vegetables. For maximum nutrition, incorporate at least one serving of dark green and bright orange vegetables into your diet each day. Foods that are dark green, such as broccoli or kale, are high in folate, which is an amazing nutrient for heart health. Orange vegetables, on the other hand, are high in beta-carotene. Your body converts beta-carotene into Vitamin A, which is known to protect the eyes from degeneration and to help prevent infection. It’s important to consume vegetables from each of these groups every day, along with a variety of fruits high in fibre and antioxidants, such as berries, apples or pears.

4. Try new whole grains.
There’s no better time than now to transition from refined grains (white bread and white pasta) to whole grains. When shopping for products such as bread, pasta or cereal, start choosing those made from wholegrain sources. You can also get many products today made from ancient grains such as spelt, kamut or quinoa, which are all highly nutritious alternatives to plain old wheat. Finally, try experimenting with amaranth, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, millet, pot barley, whole oats, whole rye and wild rice – these can be added to soups, enjoyed as breakfast cereals, or served as hearty side dishes along with meat and vegetables.

5. Try The Ultimate Detox & Weight Loss Program.
Dedicating a week to detoxifying your body is a great way to start the year off on the right foot. The Ultimate Detox & Weight Loss Program will help you nourish your body and allow it to restore, repair and revitalize itself as you introduce new healthy eating and supplementation habits into your life.

By slowly incorporating these five nutrition-based resolutions – as well as others – into your life, you’ll give your body the best gift of all: the opportunity to thrive, with all of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and happy for a lifetime ahead.