Ditch the diet: top nutrition tips to start off the new year

With the start of a new year, many of us are committing to starting a healthy diet. But how do you make sure your new year resolution turns into long-term success, and not just a fad for the month of January?

Andrea Clarke, one of our Registered Dietitians and Nutrition Therapists, shares 5 nutrition tips to start off your new year with good health.

Ditch the diet.

Commit to not dieting this new year. Weight loss programs promising quick results may be tempting however, we know that most people regain lost weight, and often more, within 2-3 years.

Eat with others and enjoy your food.

Spend time in the company of others while enjoying your meals. Have lunch with a co-worker or friend at school, plan a breakfast date with friends, or enjoy dinner with roommates, a neighbour, or your family members. Take your time, put away distractions, and connect with those around you. It might just improve your digestion, happiness, and overall health.

Prioritize plants.

If there is one thing that is not up for debate with nutrition science, it would be the fact that fruit and vegetable intake improves health. So don’t skimp on the plants this new year, eat the rainbow!

Fermented Foods

Foods that contain active live microbes help to support a diverse and abundant gut microbiome (the microbial community in the gut). Try including foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh (fermented soybeans), or miso.

Live a little

New Years Resolutions around food can often be quite restrictive and based around strict food rules. For example, we may tell ourselves: “I am giving up chocolate in 2020”.

This is not recommended! This restriction only makes us want that food even more, eventually leading to depleted willpower, a binge, followed by feelings of failure and guilt. Instead, work to heal your relationship with these foods with help from a registered dietitian.

Many insurance providers cover the cost of nutrition services. Start a healthier relationship with your food with a 60-minute nutrition consultation.