5 Tips for Healthy Eating in the New Year

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We all know the resolution routine so well: get healthy, eat well, and exercise at the start of a new year. Most of us start strong. We pile our plates with healthy protein, fresh salads, and fruit, then cut out the sweet treats and cocktails. But then that freezing cold mid-February weather hits, and nothing brings more comfort than a gooey grilled cheese sandwich or hot bowl of pasta. So, the healthy eating habits slowly begin to slip. It’s easy to get discouraged and give up.

Why not try something different this year? Instead of fighting a losing battle with your body, stick to these tips to enjoy what you eat and feel fuller longer.

• Discover your feelings of hunger and fullness. Check in with yourself and pay attention to when you are a little hungry, very hungry, or too hungry. Notice how you choose to eat based on your hunger and your levels of fullness. Compare how you feel when you are still a little hungry to how you feel when you are over-stuffed and try to find that sweet spot of being perfectly satisfied.
• Make time for meals on a regular basis. This could be as short as 15 minutes, but allowing yourself to settle down and focus on the act of eating will lead to greater satisfaction of the food you choose to eat. Regular meals also remind you that you will be eating again, so there is no need to overeat.
• Take a deep breath before eating. This will help you relax and keep you from eating your food too quickly. Mindful eating is also important for how it helps with digestion and can make you feel more satisfied with your meal.
• Allow yourself to eat as much food as you want. Yes, you read that right. Allow yourself to eat as much food as you want… so you’ll feel less restricted and will be more likely to eat the right amount of food to satisfy you.
• Respect your body and change your eating attitude. Accept your body for everything that it does for you, not for its shape or size. By thinking of eating and meal times with more positivity, you will be able to feed your body for nourishment and enjoyment, rather than counting calories and feeling guilty when you indulge.

Making these small changes will allow you to have a better relationship with food and enjoy your daily meals. Cheers to a new year and a new positive outlook on healthy eating!

For more information on healthy nutrition plans, visit bidmc.org.