NEW New Year's Resolutions!

So I figured by now that many, if not most, have already thrown in the towel on at least one of their New Year's resolutions, particularly when it comes to “eat healthier, lose weight, get in shape”. The reason many of these resolutions fall through is that most people try to change the entire scope of their eating and exercise habits overnight – and without doing the proper research. Old habits don't change overnight, and taking on a new exercise regime or an entirely new diet is overwhelming and unreasonable for most.

So, I thought it would be appropriate to suggest some EASY food choices that will help to improve digestion, increase energy, and keep your bodies in top working order. Here they are:

On your next grocery order, buy lemons. Real ones.

- Start off your day by squeezing a quarter of a lemon into a glass of water. Drink this before you have breakfast, and upon rising. The bitter taste of the lemon will help to stimulate your liver and help to clean out any leftover “sludge” from the digestive tract. During the night, the liver and kidneys are busy repairing and filtering out any waste material from the body. A glass of water with lemon in the morning is the perfect way to kick start your day and get some extra vitamin C too!

Vow to eat one raw food everyday.

- While this may sound simple, eating raw food helps ease the burden on the digestive system, because raw foods contain higher amounts of vitamin and minerals, often lost during the cooking process. The fresher they are, the more enzymes they will contain, which are responsible for breaking down food once it has been eaten. Apples, carrots, grapes, raw walnuts all make for great healthy snacks!

Cut back on sugar intake in one way or another.

- There is sugar 'hidden' in many foods to help improve taste. Try switching to a sugar-free peanut butter (most commercial peanut butters contain at least 2 kinds of sugar), or buy a sugar-free fruit juice. Many yogurts contain loads of sugar, as to stir-fry sauces, pasta sauces, etc. Make the conscious decision to read the ingredients label and avoid products that add sugar unnecessarily. Yes, your taste-buds may have to adjust to the new flavour, but your body will thank you!

Include one new GREEN food in your grocery basket

- Green foods are loaded with nutrients, vital for energy and good health. Most of us are familiar with broccoli, spinach and occasionally brussel sprouts. Try buying kale, collard greens or swiss chard. When lightly steamed and topped with a little butter, these 'winter' greens are delicious and packed with minerals! High in iron, calcium, magnesium as well as folic acid, they are also stimulating to the liver and provide loads of energy.

These are healthy, easy resolutions to help make 2009 a healthier year. Email me if you have any specific nutrition questions related to your New Year's resolutions!