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January 2016

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Kick-Start a Healthy New Year

Written by , Posted in Menu Planning, Thoughts

It’s a new year. And with it comes resolutions and plans to make changes. Some of the most common resolutions are to eat healthier and to exercise more. These can be very realistic resolutions, but they’re not always easy. With our weekly Abundant Harvest Organics box that makes the healthy eating resolution much simpler. Tons of great fruits and veggies are at our disposal. But, you still need to know what to do with those fruits and veggies once you’ve got them home. That’s the challenging part. It’s also one of the things I love to do, so here are five ideas for great recipes to kick-start your new year in a healthy way.

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Loaded Chicken and Rice Soup

Take the name literally. It’s loaded with veggies, rice, and chicken. It’s hearty and healthy in a bowl. If you don’t do meat, skip the chicken, no big deal. Add some more veggies, some tofu, or tempeh. Make a big batch and enjoy it as a great lunch all week long.

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Heart Healthy Chard Wraps

These wraps are vegan, but you wouldn’t know it. They’ve got nuts, quinoa, and raisins that kinda mimic a meaty filling and pack in the protein.

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Massaged Kale and Tuna Salad

When people are trying to eat healthier, salads often come in to play. But they have a pretty bad wrap. This salad doesn’t. It’s heartier and tastes great. Massaging the kale helps with digestibility. Tuna adds a meaty punch (crispy tofu would be fabulous too if you don’t do fish – maybe the leftovers from the Stir Fry that’s below). And, carrots (or whatever veggies you’ve got hanging around) add great crunch.

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Vegetarian Soft Tacos

Tacos are a great way to pack in the nutrients and eat well no matter what the season. During the hot summer months we enjoy Eggplant and Summer Squash Tacos. Other times in the year it might be beans and cabbage. You can throw in whatever you think will taste great, top it with some Greek yogurt and salsa, and you’ve got dinner (and maybe a lunch for tomorrow) in a flash.

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Red Choi Stir Fry with Tofu and Almonds

Stir Fry is a great way to load up on veggies. Plus, it’s quick and easy, so it makes for a great weeknight dinner. As a bonus, it usually tastes even better for lunch the next day.

The recipes and a weekly box of AHO produce are a great place to start (along with a good menu plan). But, it can still be a challenge to keep up with all that you’ve resolved to do. Here are some suggestions/tips/things that have worked for me.

How To Make It Happen

Start Now! Start today. This moment. You want to make a change? Do it. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Even if it’s just a small step in the right direction, take it. Then write it down – keep a food journal or an exercise log. Keep track and check up on yourself. Take an honest look at where you started and then track your progress. I find it much more motivating to see some improvement along the way. Inches lost, pounds shed, veggies consumed – it’s a great way to keep up the good work. As you become a healthier version of you, jot down how you feel. At the end of each week, note things that have changed (more energy, pants looser, sleeping better).

Find an accountability partner. Share your goals and plans, then keep up with how your doing. If it helps, workout together, cook together, share meals, and recipe ideas.

Exercise! For me, exercise and eating well go hand in hand. It needs to be a priority. Not only do I feel much better physically when I’m active, but mentally. I may look exactly the same, but I feel so much more confident and fit after I’ve exercised. It’s an ongoing battle for me. It’s easy to turn a day off into a week off into months off. But, I know better. I’ve known better for a long time. I used to teach aerobics classes and was a certified personal trainer (a long long time ago). No more excuses or “I’ll do it tomorrow”. Today today today, get moving!

#FreeToFail! Be free to fail, to skip a day, to indulge. Just don’t let it become a way of life. So you skipped a workout, you ate a huge piece of cake. Not the end of the world. Tomorrow is a new day. Get back to it.

Your healthy lifestyle will look different from your best friend’s. So do what works for you. Push yourself, challenge yourself, but don’t get caught in the trap of comparison. We are all uniquely made and that’s a good thing. Own it, enjoy it, and treat yourself with love and respect.

Happy New Year!

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