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By Elizabeth Magee, LRD
New year, new me? Highly unlikely! There are plenty of things that I should/could be working on, don’t get me wrong. But uffda, so much pressure on January 1. Who can handle that? Not this lady. I recently saw a meme about not creating a new you, just learning to love yourself more. And that really stuck with me.
Sometimes so much of what we think of ourselves weighs on how we look, the number on the scale, and what we are eating. Now, what we eat and what we weigh certainly have an impact on our health, but skinny doesn’t equal healthy. So just keep that in your back pocket. I’m not saying being overweight is healthy but just because someone is skinny does not mean they are healthy on the inside. Being healthy takes work and doesn’t happen by accident.
Resolutions by many have already been left in the dust and it’s only the middle of January. Most of them were based on cutting things out, eliminating things, swearing them off. Remember, these are probably things you do daily – maybe multiple times, or weekly – and you probably get some joy from them!
I think it’s more effective (in my brain anyway) if we are adding things. Give me things. Don’t take them away. No one wants that!! No one can stick to that. Who wants to cut joy from their life? Not me.
Food is at the very top of the list of things getting axed for the new year. Not today my friends. You don’t have to cut food out to be healthy. You sure as heck could add in certain foods to compliment your health.
- Add more veggies. You don’t even have to change your meal. Just add more veggies to it. Extra veggies, as a side, in a sauce, as a vehicle for your favorites (Example: Stuffed peppers filled with taco meat, beans and more veggies).
- Calcium. It does not have to be in the form of milk (but it could be). Yogurt and cottage cheese both make great snacks. And who doesn’t have room for string cheese with your afternoon snack?
- Incorporate beans into your meal. They offer fiber, protein, iron, magnesium and are budget friendly!
- Or your heart may thank you for incorporating fish more often that you currently are. Healthy fats! Easy tip: canned tuna counts!
- If you’re cutting out pop, but that makes you feel sad, can you try to get on a flavored water kick or sparkling soda? (LaCroix anyone?) You’re not necessarily adding healthy benefits, but maybe cutting caffeine or sugar depending on your pop choice.
- Dry January got you down? I prefer to call it a damp January. You can still have some beverages (adult beverages that is), but less frequently!
- Try adding flaxseed to a variety of things. It’s a North Dakota product that will add fiber and healthy fats. Add to muffin mix, cookies, meatloaf, oatmeal, smoothies – anywhere you want to have some texture!
We are so quick to be hard on ourselves for so many reasons. It’s a good time to let go of that and acknowledge all the great things you’re doing for yourself and those around you. It truly deserves credit. Say nice things, thank each other, be kind. We’re all just out here trying to survive somedays and remember that we are enough!! Life can be hard. Be there for each other. Add a little kindness everyday!
Elizabeth Magee is a licensed registered dietitian. Her posts appear monthly on OYT.
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