Healthy Eating Habits: How to Restart Them

At the end of each year make time to reflect upon the past twelve months. Ask:

• What am I grateful for?
• What would I do differently?
• What were my goals for the past year?
• Did I achieve them?

Slowing down and checking in with yourself is an incredible learning opportunity—and, on this New Year’s Eve, instead of setting another “resolution,” consider identifying what you did that made you feel really good. What was nourishing for you? Then take a moment to reflect on what didn’t feel good. What would you like to let go of? 

When it comes to healthy eating habits, try taking this approach. What have you been doing or eating that feels really good—something that you’d like to carry with you into the new year?

What have you been doing or eating that doesn’t feel so good that you’d like to let go of? Is there something you’d like to try but haven’t made space for yet? 

The best part about this: it keeps you out of the trap of “failing” at achieving your “New Year's Resolution.” If you have a mindset of experimentation, you can try out a lifestyle change and see how it feels in your body. If it makes you feel better, great! Keep doing it.

However, if it doesn’t make you feel better, let it go without judgement. By continuing to experiment, you’ll build trust in your intuition, and then you can listen and learn from what your body is telling you—so you can know what foods or habits are the most nourishing for you. 

10 Tips for Healthy Eating Habit in the New Year 

1. Incorporate microgreens into your meals such as basil, cilantro, or fennel. They’re an easy way to add flavor and packed with nutrients. 
2. Variety is the spice of life, so try a new seasonal vegetable or variety of vegetable each month. 
3. Consider expanding your repertoire by trying one new plant-based recipe each week or month—whatever works for you. 
4. Incorporate more color into your meals by adding differently colored vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. This is my favorite way to add beauty to a meal while getting lots of phytochemicals, which have powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. 
5. See, smell, and really taste your food. It sounds simple but can have a huge impact on how well you digest what you eat. 
6. Incorporate fermented foods to help support a healthy microbiome. (Here’s a delicious recipe for fermented winter radish.)
7. Focus on what you can include, not what you are trying to minimize. The choices are bountiful when you consider how many fruits and vegetables there are to enjoy. 
8. Take three deep breaths before you eat. It might be more difficult than it sounds but can have a profound impact on digestion. This signals to your body that you are safe so you can “rest and digest” more efficiently than if in a state of stress. 
9. Plan ahead. Meal prep can make a huge difference because nobody likes to get “hangry.” Maintaining balanced blood sugar throughout the day is important and having food that supports your health and is ready to go can reduce decision fatigue and keep you nourished throughout the week. 
10. Stay well hydrated. Drinking plenty of filtered water, mineral water, and/or delicious teas throughout the day supports your body's natural detoxification process and may improve energy and decrease fatigue . The general recommendation is to drink ½ to 1 oz of water a day for each pound of body weight. 

How to Experiment with Healthy Eating Habits

To return to healthy eating habits that support your wellbeing, consider one of our fresh vegetable boxes. You can choose a box based on your tastes and interests and select the frequency. It’s super easy and makes experimenting with new and interesting vegetables simple while providing motivation to try new recipes.

In short, we invite you to nourish your body with nutrient dense vegetables grown on a family farm that embraces regenerative agriculture!