3 Great Food Resolutions For 2016 That Will Improve Your Health
If you are looking to make resolutions that will impact your life this year, you should consider adopting the three food resolutions discussed below. These resolutions will help you improve your health and well-being.
#1 Eat Breakfast
Although most people know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, many individuals still choose to skip breakfast. If you tend to skip breakfast, make a resolution this year to eat breakfast more often. If you don't ever eat breakfast, set a goal of eating breakfast at least three days a week. If you eat breakfast a couple of days a week, set a goal to get breakfast every day.
There are numerous reasons why you should eat breakfast. People who eat breakfast tend to:
- be healthier
- be less obese
- have lower blood sugar levels
- have more energy
- have better short-term memory
Try to avoid breakfast foods that are high in sugar, such as many cereals, and stick with foods that are healthy and will fill you up. Some great breakfast choices include food such as:
- Oatmeal
- Fruit
- Whole-grain toast
- Whole-grain pancakes
- Eggs
- Low-fat cheeses and milk
#2 Increase Your Omega-3 Intake
Your body needs omega-3 fatty acids. The most common places to find omega-3 fatty acids are from fish such as sardines, salmon and tuna. You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from walnuts, flax, hemp seeds and chia seeds.
One of the biggest benefits of increasing the omega-3 fatty acids in your diet is that they help lower blood pressure and decrease hypertension. They are also beneficial and help improve conditions in a variety of diseases, ranging from cystic fibrosis to bronchial asthma.
#3 Increase Your Vegetable Intake
It is recommended that you eat between three to four servings of vegetables for a 1,600 calorie diet per day, and up to five servings for a 2,000 calorie diet per day. A serving of vegetables depends on how it is prepared.
If you are eating raw, leafy vegetables, a serving is comprised of one cup. If you are eating cooked vegetables or raw, cut-up veggies, a half of a cup is considered a serving. Finally, if you are consuming your vegetables in the form of juice, half a cup is considered a serving.
Vegetables are packed full of healthy vitamins and minerals that your body needs. It can be so easy to skip out on your vegetables though. Make it a point to increase your vegetable intake and work on eating the daily recommended serving every day, not just on some days.
If you want to improve your health this year, start eating breakfast every day and make sure that you all your vegetables too. Finally, don't forget about your omega-3's; your body needs them too. Try to eat fist or other omega-3 fatty foods a couple of days a week. Visit your local health food store—like Southtown Health Foods and other stores—and load up on organic, fresh food to meet your food goals today.