Top 10 Tips to a Happier Healthier 2015

1.    Drink more water and skip the soda, sweetened tea and alcohol. We’ve all heard this tip over and over again, but that’s because it’s so important. If you don’t have a water bottle, get one and start keeping track of how much you’re drinking each day. I take my water bottle with me everywhere!

§  If you do drink alcohol, do so in moderation and stick with lighter options like red wine or vodka with soda water.

2.    Avoid processed and packaged foods and increase your intake of fresh, whole foods. Adding in wholesome foods means you are crowding out unhealthy ones. Skip foods that come in a package, especially those with an incredibly long shelf life.

3.    At each meal think about having a serving of lean protein along with a wholesome carb (whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, beans, fruit or starchy veggies) and healthy fat option. Thinking about meals this way makes it so easy to come up with different combos.

4.    Eat your greens! Green vegetables are the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. Eat them as often and as much as you’d like. This includes all leafy greens, brussels sprouts, broccoli, green beans, asparagus, etc.)

5.    Cook at home more. You’ll likely make better food choices, eat less and save money. It’s a win-win.

6.    Watch your portion sizes. This is especially important when eating healthy foods because we often like to think that if something is healthy we can eat as much as we want.

§  Beware of super-sized plates. Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. When you finish what’s on your plate, pause and sense your fullness before going for seconds.

§  Portions are huge at restaurants. When you are eating out order appetizers as main course, put half of your order in a to-go bag before you dig in or share an entrée with a friend.

7.    Avoid the health food halo effect. Gluten-free crackers and chips are still processed carbs, vegan cookies are still cookies, and coconut sugar, raw cane sugar and other natural sweeteners are still sugar. These foods may sound “healthier” than their regular counterparts (and they may be) but they’re still treats.

8.    Remember that you are unique. There’s no plan or way of eating that works for everyone. You have to find what foods work for you body by trial and error.

9.    Be mindful. In today’s society we’re all about multi-tasking, so almost everyone eats while doing other things — driving, walking, talking, watching tv, looking at their phone, on the computer, etc. This is not a good thing!

§  Manage your time and plan ahead so you can sit down and eat your food without doing anything else. It’s amazing what being present can do. You’ll likely find that you’re more observant of how full you’re feeling, more satisfied after the meal and you’ll probably eat less than if you’d been mindless munching.

10. Treat yourself. As I always say, eating healthy has to be a lifestyle, one that involves moderation and balance. Healthy eating can (and should) include your favorite foods from time to time, wine, chocolate, cookies, whatever foods you absolutely love, you can’t simply stop eating them or you will feel deprived and deprivation is never a good thing.