Nutrition = New Year’s Resolution??? We all say that we are going to give something up or change a certain part of our lifestyle as we enter into 2024. Some of us may choose to give up smoking or vow to exercise every day, regardless of how tired we are when we are done with work.
The reality is, as much as we all want to make a change for the better, how often do we stick with it? As tough as it truly is to create a plan of action and actually ride it out, it is doable! Taking action is the first step to a healthier, more pure lifestyle. One way we can do this is through our daily nutrition. Yes, nutrition. What makes this a very do-able goal is that it is something we have to make time for every day--as we all must eat.
The problem lies with what we eat every day. It’s a simple decision between eating the regular burger during your break or snagging a chicken salad with light ranch dressing. We all know it’s tough to resist the side of French fries when the menu clearly says that it can be substituted for fruit or a non-deep fried vegetable. But it is that simple decision that could be the difference between feeling lethargic at work or more refreshed and energized.
A good question may be, “Where can I get information or help with my new nutrition plan?” Well, look no further than your local pharmacists. They can take a look at your medication profile and direct you towards some ideas that may benefit your daily lifestyle. Pharmacists are educated and armed with proper nutrition knowledge to help patients make conscious decisions about their daily food intake.
Before meeting with your pharmacist, jot down what you have eaten over the past few days so he/she can look it over and make proper recommendations. A very useful site with a daily food chart can be found here: http://www.nutrimirror.com/meal_notes3.pdf
Good luck with your nutrition change and don’t forget to check out GetHealthyHarlem.org and their Healthy Tip of the Week where there are recommendations to help you stay aware of your health!
beautifulsunshine February 10, 2024 - 12:07pm
I rarely ate fruits and vegetables, and instead ate lots of fast food and junk food like chips, cakes, candies, and drink coke and coffee every day. When my diet was poor, I got acne on my face, gained weight, became constipated, had a bigger belly, and felt tired all the time. As a result, I didn’t work efficiently and actively. I changed my bad eating habits gradually into a healthier diet and my health was improved.
I decided to eat healthier by eating more fruits and vegetables, bringing lunches that I prepared at home, and drinking more water and milk instead of coke and coffee. I went to the market to buy my favorite foods which is fresher and cheaper. I could save lots of money from not eating out too much. When I cooked my foods, I used olive oil and used only a little salt and sugar. I also began to bake foods instead of deep frying.
It is hard to do all these changes and it takes a little extra time to prepare my healthy meals at home. Now I have to spend an hour to cook dinner and prepare lunch for the next day. Even when I am very busy with school and work and have no time to cook, I will try to cook food for 3-4 days. As my changes were gradual, it wasn’t so hard. They work around my schedule and I feel so much better. It has been worth it in the long run.