By: Myranda Dunmire, Sioux Falls Hy-vee

New Year, Healthier You! 

It is that time of year again where we all want to make a change: lose weight, get more sleep, quit smoking, get organized, drink more water, set aside more time to cook, etc.  It seems easy in the beginning, but we find that we tend to lose steam as time goes by.  It can be overwhelming to keep up, but this year, you can attain your goals and become a better you! 

Start By Assessing Your Food Choices and Lifestyle 

It can be hard to make a change if you do not know what you are currently doing.  Track your food, exercise, sleep, or any behavior you want to change so you know what to focus on to better yourself.  

Change One Behavior at a Time 

Behaviors take time to develop, therefore changing those behaviors will also take time.  Don’t feel as though you have to tackle everything in your life; instead just start with one thing and go from there. 

Set Achievable Goals for Yourself 

Break large goals into smaller ones; one large goal can be overwhelming and therefore hard to stick to, so smaller goals are the way to go!  That way you can see instant progress and feel good for achieving those individual steps. Be sure to make goals realistic to you and your daily routine. For example, the phrase “I will eat healthier” is too vague; switch it up and say “I will add one extra vegetable to my dinner plate” or “I will switch one of my glasses of milk from whole milk to 1% milk.” Remember that goals should be challenging but not to the point where they cannot be achieved.   

Make Sure Your Goals are Measurable  

Goals should also be measurable, meaning they should answer the question “how much” or “how many” in order for you to easily track your progress.  For example, “I will get up and walk for 5 minutes every hour at work for 3 days out of the week,” is a measurable goal.   

Don’t Beat Yourself Up 

It is completely normal to have minor missteps when reaching your goals, and these are OK.  Don’t let the small slips keep you from achieving your goals; just adjust for them and keep going! 

Ask for Help 

By surrounding yourself in a supportive environment, you can strengthen your resilience and manage stress levels.  You can even reach out to local professionals, like your Hy-Vee dietitian, to help you reach your goals. 

Try This Quick and Easy Recipe to Kick-Start Healthy Eating! Recipe adopted from Half Baked Harvest 

Healthy Chai Banana Pancakes 

Prep Time: 10 minutes  

Cook Time: 10 minutes