New Year, New Nutrition

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution that was sure to last, only to end up forgetting it ever existed by the end of January? If the answer is yes, you are certainly not alone. The start of a year presents the optimism of opportunity while also unveiling the roadblocks of reality. Fortunately, you are seen and supported as you venture into a new season fueled by healthy habits and new nutrition.

New Nutrition: Challenge and Change

A study by the Journal of Substance Abuse reported that only 19% of its participants maintained their New Year’s resolutions. Why is it so uncommon to follow through with these goals? Though the response to this question is different for everyone, there are a few undeniable patterns when it comes to abandoned plans.

Here are a few common reasons New Year’s resolutions are rejected:

• Lack of specificity: The goal is too vague
• Lack of structure: The goal is impossible to measure or achieve
• Lack of motivation: The goal is externally motivated
• Lack of support: There is not enough assistance or accountability
• Lack of preparation: There is no plan to overcome barriers or setbacks

After repeatedly doing the same thing, chemicals in the brain cause urges and cravings when you attempt to break the cycle. According to NIH News in Health, “routines can become hardwired in our brains.” Habits are normal and natural, yet they can easily lead to dangerous tendencies, compulsions, and addictions.

No matter how authentic your ambitions may be, science proves that it is challenging for anyone to develop new patterns and practices. Automatic beliefs and behaviors plant deep roots in the minds of habitual beings. For this reason, it requires ambition, ability, action, and assistance to establish and sustain change.

New Nutrition: Accountability and Action

It is not surprising that many New Year’s resolutions center around nutrition, as a healthy diet is a crucial component of physical and mental well-being. Improving your relationship with food and eating may seem like a daunting task; however, new nutrition is always possible.

The reassuring reality is that the key to maintaining resolutions is not perfection. Long-term success comes with the awareness and acceptance that the strongest plans leave room for inevitable oppositions and oversights. You cannot ensure that accomplishing your goals will be easy, but you can prepare yourself as adequately as possible with specific, realistic, and supported resolutions.

Specific

Setting vague or overly broad goals often leads to confusion and excuses. Instead, develop a clear, distinct, and individualized goal to meet your demands. Rather than simply stating, “I will eat healthier,” provide more details to substantiate and strengthen your intention. Your specified resolution could be, “I will improve my diet by incorporating more food groups at each meal.”

You can further establish your objective by developing indicators to monitor and measure your progress. For instance, the previously mentioned resolution could become, “I will improve my diet by incorporating at least four food groups at each meal.” You are more likely to follow through with a goal that is concrete and measurable. It is much easier to forget or ignore a plan not set in stone. Specifying your intention also offers more opportunities to celebrate small wins along the way.

Realistic

Unrealistic standards and expectations can be discouraging and demotivating. It is important to make resolutions that match your attributes and abilities. The key to this characteristic is simple and complicated at the same time: honesty.

You must be truthful with yourself and fully consider your available time, energy, and assets. Don’t base your goal around a resource that isn’t accessible to you or factors out of your control. If you struggle to balance your work, personal, and social responsibilities, it may not be practical to promise to cook dinner from scratch every night. Instead, you can find a healthy compromise that supports your situation without abandoning your intention. LifeSpring Home Nutrition delivers fresh and healthy meals straight to your door!

Supported

Finding a solid support system is perhaps the best way to stay accountable. As stated by the CDC, “When people are socially connected and have stable and supportive relationships, they are more likely to make healthy choices and to have better mental and physical health outcomes.”

When you share your intentions with someone, you are no longer alone in your efforts. Explaining your goals to others allows them to better support your ambitions. Asking for help is one of the greatest signs of strength, as it demonstrates the courage and commitment to change.

Spring into New Nutrition With LifeSpring

One of the best ways to ensure your success is to align your goals with your priorities, principles, and personality. LifeSpring Home Nutrition understands and respects the importance of setting goals that adhere to your authentic self. Whether you are looking for a complete meal package or simply want to supplement your current diet, there is an individualized plan for you.

As you enter this next season, LifeSpring Home Nutrition is here to support you in creating and maintaining specific and realistic goals. The on-staff, registered dietician is available to discuss your unique wants and needs. You are never alone in your journey to an improved relationship with food. A fresh year is a perfect chance for fresh, new nutrition.

Change is challenging, but with the proper ambition and assistance, the new year is sure to bring health and happiness to you and your family. At LifeSpring Home Nutrition, our yearly resolution is to help you achieve your nutritional goals. With customization at the heart of our company, each meal is tailor-made to fit your individualized requirements. We make your nutritional goals possible and practical by planning, preparing, and packaging balanced meals for you. Select homemade meals quickly and easily, and have them delivered straight to your door. A new year brings countless opportunities for healthy habits, beautiful beginnings, and new nutrition. Call (800) 798-5767 to start reinforcing your resolutions one delicious meal at a time.