5 Tips for a Healthy New Year

Many people start off the New Year by making resolutions. Unfortunately, only about 8 percent of those people actually continue long enough in their new behaviors to achieve their goal. Most people never make it past the first week! Still, this is a great time to start thinking about improving our health and well-being. Making healthier choices in our diet and increasing physical activity are great new habits to form.

But how can we make healthy resolutions stick? You can get started with the tips below.

5 Tips for a Healthy New Year

1. Set Realistic Goals

We need to know what our limitations are and start with something we know we can do. For example, it may be unrealistic to say, “I’m going to work out for an hour every day.” A more realistic goal may be, “I’m going to exercise 15 minutes every day.” Starting small and working up can be an effective way to start forming new habits.

2. Be Specific

A broad goal of better health can be broken down into smaller goals. You could begin with a small, specific commitment such as making your own healthy lunch twice a week.

3. Track Your Progress

Logging your progress is a helpful reminder of your goals and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Feeling proud of your progress will go a long way to forming a new habit that will last.

4. Keep It Positive

Positive reinforcement is a key to forming new habits! Make sure to choose something enjoyable for you. Find an activity which you are willing and able to do on a regular basis. Stick with it and forgive yourself if you get off track. You won’t be perfect, but you will be improving yourself!

5. Join Us

Tarrant Area Food Bank provides free classes and workshops to help you build healthy habits. Join us for an upcoming Cooking Matters course to learn tips on eating healthy on a budget. Visit our Cooking Matters page for the latest course schedule. You can also sign up for one of our Kitchen Garden Cooking School workshops where you’ll learn how to grow and cook with fresh produce. Visit our Eventbrite page for a list of all of our workshops. In addition, keep checking our blog for recipes you can prepare and share with friends and family.

Wishing you a healthy new year!

By Cheryl DeVine
Cooking Matters Program Assistant, Tarrant Area Food Bank