5 Quick-Start Ideas for a Healthier 2012
Okay, so apologies are in order. A few weeks ago, we disturbed and horrified you with the "Five Nastiest Foods in America." We disgusted you with photos of pink hot dog sludge, and chided you for that nasty soda habit...but we left you with no real solutions. We feel terrible about that. Will you let us make it up to you?
Perhaps you want your family to eat healthier, but you don't know where to start. Or...maybe you eat pretty healthy already, but you want to take it up a notch. Well, tear the plastic wrapper off that Dilbert calendar. The New Year is the perfect time to make a fresh start, and we're here to help you do it. Da da daaaaaaa!
Below, we've provided a list of 5 EASY IDEAS to help you start a healthier 2012. The best way to start eating healthier is to do it gradually...changing one little thing at a time.
The problem is....NOBODY likes change.
(WHAT?!? We have to change??? Retreat! Retreat!!!!)
But we're not talking about super-galactic, cold-turkey, overnight change. We're talking about very small, highly manageable, one-thing-at-a-time, you-can-do-it change.
But here's the deal...
If you want to take control of your health (like Mom did (she lost 30 pounds)...read her story here), you'll need to stick with that one little thing for the next month.
You must stick to it like staticky hair sticks to your face in the winter...
...like drivers stick to their iPhones on the highway...
...like toilet paper sticks to the heel of your shoe when you're walking out of the bathroom in a fancy restaurant.
Will you take the challenge? Please say that you will! If so, pick one little item from the list below, and read it out loud for the whole world to hear. Then, write it on 67 yellow sticky notes, and place them in prominent locations around your home. (Okay, just one on the fridge will do).
***5 EASY WAYS TO START A HEALTHIER NEW YEAR***
1. Eat natural Quaker oatmeal each day for breakfast
See our recipe for "Not Yo Mama's Oatmeal." Super fast. Easy. Delicious.
2. Reduce your soda intake by just one each day
Here's an article on easy ways to cut back on soda. (Scroll to bottom for tips).
3. Replace white carbs with whole grain carbs
Here are some whole grain products that we love (all from Walmart):
-Oroweat 100% Whole Grain Bread
-Barilla Plus Pastas
-Mission Whole Wheat Tortillas
-Kashi Cinnamon Harvest Cereal
4. Eat Veggies and Dip once a day, in lieu of a less-healthy snack
We love baby carrots and red bell pepper strips! And some of our favorite dips:
-Sabra Hummus (Garlic or Roasted Red Bell Pepper flavor) - from Walmart
-City Girl Ranch Dip - My Mom's latest creation! Creamy and flavorful!
5. Start reading food labels
Some things to consider when you're on aisle 7, deciding between products:
-Usually, the item with fewer ingredients will be the more natural one.
-Try to avoid things like: sodium benzoate, BHT, high fructose corn syrup,
aspartame, artificial food coloring, hydrogenated oil, nitrates, and nitrites.
- Bottom line: If you can't pronounce it, you probably shouldn't eat it.
Are you ready to start? Great!!!
Now, if you're really serious about doing this, then get your spouse or a friend to do it with you. There's nothing quite like ordering a salad, then watching your spouse consume seven pieces of meat-lovers pizza.
We know we've got some over-achievers out there...but seriously, just pick ONE item to start with. If you try to do everything at once, you might get overwhelmed. (We tried that. Then crashed. And burned).
And, if you should fall off the wagon (which we all do sometimes), just brush off your jeans, and climb back on. We'll check back with you next Monday to see how it's going. Until then...
Happy, Healthy New Year, everyone!!!
Love,
Katie and Barb
P.S. PLEASE VOTE FOR US. :)
This is the LAST WEEK to vote!
Please nominate our blog for a "Bloggie Award." Our goal with this blog is to help people and to change lives. Please vote for us, so we can continue doing just that.
Please click HERE to vote. It just takes a minute. Thank you!
Katie and Barb
Okay, so apologies are in order. A few weeks ago, we disturbed and horrified you with the "Five Nastiest Foods in America." We disgusted you with photos of pink hot dog sludge, and chided you for that nasty soda habit...but we left you with no real solutions. We feel terrible about that. Will you let us make it up to you?
Perhaps you want your family to eat healthier, but you don't know where to start. Or...maybe you eat pretty healthy already, but you want to take it up a notch. Well, tear the plastic wrapper off that Dilbert calendar. The New Year is the perfect time to make a fresh start, and we're here to help you do it. Da da daaaaaaa!
Below, we've provided a list of 5 EASY IDEAS to help you start a healthier 2012. The best way to start eating healthier is to do it gradually...changing one little thing at a time.
The problem is....NOBODY likes change.
(WHAT?!? We have to change??? Retreat! Retreat!!!!)
But we're not talking about super-galactic, cold-turkey, overnight change. We're talking about very small, highly manageable, one-thing-at-a-time, you-can-do-it change.
But here's the deal...
If you want to take control of your health (like Mom did (she lost 30 pounds)...read her story here), you'll need to stick with that one little thing for the next month.
You must stick to it like staticky hair sticks to your face in the winter...
...like drivers stick to their iPhones on the highway...
...like toilet paper sticks to the heel of your shoe when you're walking out of the bathroom in a fancy restaurant.
Will you take the challenge? Please say that you will! If so, pick one little item from the list below, and read it out loud for the whole world to hear. Then, write it on 67 yellow sticky notes, and place them in prominent locations around your home. (Okay, just one on the fridge will do).
***5 EASY WAYS TO START A HEALTHIER NEW YEAR***
1. Eat natural Quaker oatmeal each day for breakfast
See our recipe for "Not Yo Mama's Oatmeal." Super fast. Easy. Delicious.
2. Reduce your soda intake by just one each day
Here's an article on easy ways to cut back on soda. (Scroll to bottom for tips).
3. Replace white carbs with whole grain carbs
Here are some whole grain products that we love (all from Walmart):
-Oroweat 100% Whole Grain Bread
-Barilla Plus Pastas
-Mission Whole Wheat Tortillas
-Kashi Cinnamon Harvest Cereal
4. Eat Veggies and Dip once a day, in lieu of a less-healthy snack
We love baby carrots and red bell pepper strips! And some of our favorite dips:
-Sabra Hummus (Garlic or Roasted Red Bell Pepper flavor) - from Walmart
-City Girl Ranch Dip - My Mom's latest creation! Creamy and flavorful!
5. Start reading food labels
Some things to consider when you're on aisle 7, deciding between products:
-Usually, the item with fewer ingredients will be the more natural one.
-Try to avoid things like: sodium benzoate, BHT, high fructose corn syrup,
aspartame, artificial food coloring, hydrogenated oil, nitrates, and nitrites.
- Bottom line: If you can't pronounce it, you probably shouldn't eat it.
Are you ready to start? Great!!!
Now, if you're really serious about doing this, then get your spouse or a friend to do it with you. There's nothing quite like ordering a salad, then watching your spouse consume seven pieces of meat-lovers pizza.
We know we've got some over-achievers out there...but seriously, just pick ONE item to start with. If you try to do everything at once, you might get overwhelmed. (We tried that. Then crashed. And burned).
And, if you should fall off the wagon (which we all do sometimes), just brush off your jeans, and climb back on. We'll check back with you next Monday to see how it's going. Until then...
Happy, Healthy New Year, everyone!!!
Love,
Katie and Barb
P.S. PLEASE VOTE FOR US. :)
This is the LAST WEEK to vote!
Please nominate our blog for a "Bloggie Award." Our goal with this blog is to help people and to change lives. Please vote for us, so we can continue doing just that.
Please click HERE to vote. It just takes a minute. Thank you!
Katie and Barb
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