New Year’s resolutions are usually difficult to keep. We’ve all been in that situation. When it comes to your health, though, making a few commitments to yourself is essential. When times are rough, especially during a pandemic, it’s even more important to eat well and keep healthy.
Here are ten exciting food resolutions that you can make for 2022.
One of the easiest strategies to get out of a culinary rut is to commit to trying new cuisine. From Brazilian to the Caribbean, Moroccan, Vietnamese and Chinese, these travel-inspired recipe collections will bring new flavors to your table.
Mindful eating is based on the Buddhist practice of mindfulness, and it entails paying complete attention to your meal in the present moment without being distracted by anything else. This is especially beneficial to the cephalic phase of digestion when your stomach creates digestive fluids in reaction to the sight, taste, or smell of food.
Resist the urge to cut food out and focus on what you can add! Underappreciated foods with significant nutritional profiles include seeds (chia, flax, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower), microgreens, spices, and fermented foods. Sprinkle seeds on your toast, add microgreens to your sandwich, try turmeric and ginger dishes, and toss some kimchi into your grain bowl. Your brain and gut will appreciate it.
More achievable resolutions are more sustainable than fully eliminating certain foods. Rather than eliminating specific foods in January, which can lead to massive binging in February due to extreme deprivation, we advocate eating them in little portions. For example, if you’re trying to switch to a vegetarian diet, rather than quitting beef or chicken altogether, commit to having a small portion 1 to 2 times each week. Allowing for those indulgences may make the path much simpler to keep to without making you feel deprived.
You’ve undoubtedly heard that you should drink two liters of water every day, but to be more precise, you should drink 30 milliliters of water per kilogram of your body weight per day. For example, if you weigh 75 kilograms, you’ll need two and a quarter liters of water every day. Water is necessary for a variety of body activities, including temperature control, digestion, and blood circulation. If you’re having trouble getting enough water, consider adding fresh herbs or citrus slices to your water.
Rather than following fad diets that promise quick results while jeopardizing your metabolic and mental health, pick a nutrition plan that not only matches your objectives but also fits into your lifestyle. A well-balanced diet would yield gradual but long-term effects. It should be a diet that can easily become a way of life rather than a luxury.
Making a deliberate effort to load your plate with more whole foods (such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, tofu, and pure protein sources) and fewer processed foods is the easiest approach to start a healthy year. By establishing the habit of eating more whole foods, you can enjoy a lower rate of heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.