Welcome to a new decade! While now is about the time most people give up on “New Year’s Resolutions,” there is no reason you can’t stick to the goals you made earlier this month. Here are some ideas from Savor Health’s oncology registered dietitians to inspire you to stay on track and make the most of the new year. Accepting the idea that you CAN change your habits will help you to actually change them.
- Try a new fruit or vegetable each month of 2020. That will be 12 new fruits or vegetables that you can add to your repertoire! How about roasting some spaghetti squash instead of using traditional pasta with your favorite sauce? How about jicama? It makes a great alternative to traditional “french fry” potatoes! Or try including pomegranate seeds or dark cherries in your favorite hot cereal.
- Try setting short-term goals that are flexible. For example, you could resolve to sample one new vegetable, bring your lunch to work, or avoid packaged snacks for a week. It can be so much easier to make one small change to your diet at a time.
For those who need to gain weight, adding a small amount of high calorie foods to your meals, like avocado and nut butters, can go a long way!
- Resolve to eat more mindfully. Between our phones, computers and the television, it is easy to become distracted. This can lead to "mindless" eating and consuming more food than needed. Our team recommends practicing intuitive eating to help you become in touch with real hunger and satiety cues. First thing’s first, avoid eating in front of the television or computer!
When managing symptoms, think what you CAN eat, not what you CAN'T. Make it a goal this year to focus on what foods you can add, instead of what you should avoid. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try a new ingredient or recipe!
- Stay informed. There are no miracle diets and super foods that cure all. Take a step back and think about who the information is coming from and who has to gain from you buying it.
Eating better does not mean perfect! Doing your best is all you can do, so make 2020 the year you make a change! Start cooking more, eat with people, or just drink a little bit more water a day. Happy and Healthy New Year from us at Savor Health!
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Savor Health is a provider of personalized nutrition solutions designed exclusively for cancer patients based on evidence-based science and clinical best practices and provided by a team of oncology-credentialed registered dietitians.
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