As the year rolls to an end, too many of us are still eating too much cholesterol, sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats. We’ve made resolutions each year, but daily stressors and our constant time-crunch lifestyles lead to mindless and unhealthy eating. Here are ten simple steps to a healthier diet and lifestyle for the New Year, so cross off your list of excuses and start January on the right foot. Healthy diets don’t require a major overhaul, just a few changes here and there is all you need.

10 Healthy Resolutions

Don’t Cut Out, Simply Add In

Instead of depriving yourself of the foods you love, start slowly by adding in healthy, wholesome foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables at each meal. Avoiding the foods you cannot live without will only set you up for disaster. Moderation is key to enjoying some unhealthy foods, so don’t beat yourself up for savoring sweets, just be sure to keep yourself in check throughout the rest of the day.

Watch Where Your Calories Are Coming From

If you’re eating a white bagel for breakfast, a smear of Jif on Wonder Bread for lunch and a frozen entrée for dinner, it’s a smart choice to re-consider the source of these processed foods. Aim to eat as close to the natural source as possible and revamp your pantry with whole grains, fruits and vegetables. For instance, opt for a whole grain bagel with lox, almond butter on whole wheat bread for lunch and a tofu stir fry for dinner. You’ll be amazed at the surge in energy these simple swaps will make in your daily life.

Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs

Hop off the low carb bandwagon, which phased out years ago; by now you should know healthy carbs do exist.  Enjoy nutrient-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables, which contain complex carbs and fiber to keep you satiated longer than the nutrient-void simple carbs found in candy, soda, white bread products and juices. Simple carbs are nothing but empty calories and will leave you unsatisfied with a blood sugar surge and crash; therefore opt for your whole grain friends in lieu of their white counterparts.

Enjoy Heart-Healthy Fats

All fats are not created equal. Forgo the fat phobia and enjoy healthy unsaturated fats from oils, fish, seeds and nuts in moderation. Steer clear of saturated fats found in whole milk, meat and cheese. Make an effort to scan nutrition labels for trans fats, which are unhealthy and found in many products containing hydrogenated oils. Moreover, limit your intake of full fat dairy and red meat; opt for skim milk or unsweetened soy milk in your morning cereal and swap ground chicken in place of beef in your evening tacos.

Increase Your Fiber

Americans typically don’t get enough fiber in their diets; therefore make it a ‘Must’ for the New Year to increase your fiber intake with whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa and buckwheat. You get more fiber, vitamin E, B6, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese and potassium in whole wheat than in refined ‘enriched’ white flour. Moreover, toss in fruits, beans and vegetables to your morning omelet, afternoon salad and evening chili to reap the heart-healthy benefits of fiber. Get creative and opt for a breakfast parfait, whole wheat zucchini bread, hummus with vegetables or bean burgers.

Up Your Water Intake

It’s quite easy and free. Keep bottled water with you all day long: one at your work desk, another in your kitchen fridge and yet another along your bedside to give your body a fluid boost and help flush out toxins. Opt for a glass of water with fresh mint, cucumber slices, oranges or limes, which will give your taste buds a refreshing treat without the calories and sugar of soda or juice. Avoid sodas and sugar-laden juices by slowly transitioning to a mixture of seltzer and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Create a Rainbow

Vary the rainbow of produce in your meals; try adding a new fruit and vegetable to your meals each week. Toss an apple in your brown bag or whip up a fruit smoothie for breakfast. When creating dinner, opt for topping your fish or chicken with vegetable and fruit purees. Keep handy bags of frozen fruit and vegetables in the freezer and create ready-to eat crudités in your fridge. Need an emergency snack to keep in your gym bag? Why not create a mixture of dried apples, apricots, pears and cherries? Dried fruits are a tasty way to satisfy your sweet craving and add to your fiber quota for the day.

Nix Mindless Munchies

Keep yourself busy with a mint or a piece of gum. Moreover, make a habit of brushing your teeth after each meal. After your meal, enjoy a hot herbal tea or hot water with lemon while you digest your food and give your brain enough time to register that you are full. Take a walk, call a friend or journal; make a list of things to do when you are ‘bored’ and find yourself mindlessly devouring the pantry. Post this list on your fridge and refer to it each time you find yourself reaching for the pint of Breyers.

Forgo Temptations

Leave the chips, cookies and candy in the food store, not in your pantry. Unfortunately these tasty treats seem to creep into our kitchens and the outcome is never enjoyable. Instead of depriving yourself of sweets, think about what you are craving and what would satisfy your need for sweetness. Perhaps it’s a cup of hot cocoa with skim milk, cinnamon and cocoa powder, or an apple dipped into agave nectar and sprinkled with unsweetened coconut. If you are a chocolate fan, enjoy a square of rich dark chocolate or a few raw cacao nibs to cure your sweet tooth.

Enjoy Your Food

Create an eye-appeasing dish and sit down in an enjoyable environment while you dine. Many people eat while standing up and end up inhaling food out of the fridge. Turn away from the computer at lunch and savor your food; turn off the television at night and focus on your food presentation. Taking the time to prepare a beautiful dish is the name of the game and easier to do than you think. The only way a healthy diet will work is if you enjoy the foods you are eating so be sure to savor each bite of your meal and concentrate on your hunger and satiety levels before reaching for seconds.

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