A new year means a time for re-evaluating the things we are doing right, and the things we want to do better. Every year when I take stock of how things are going in my life, I make sure to look at how I am doing with my health. Over the years, I’ve made five small changes that I’ve found have made a big difference in my overall health. These changes are not difficult to make—just take the first steps, and soon they will become a habit.
1. Drink more water. Now, don’t equate water with just any kind of fluid—coffee and soft drinks don’t count as water intake. (Sorry!) I’m actually talking about pure, filtered water. Your body needs at least 64 ounces a day. Most people think they probably get around that much, but here’s the way you find out for sure: Keep a tally. Just jot down every time you are drinking water, and how much you are consuming. You probably aren’t getting enough.
2. Limit caffeine. I know you’re surprised to hear a big coffee lover like me cautioning you about your caffeine intake. But 2012 was the year I realized that I was drinking way too much coffee and consuming way too much caffeine. Because of all that caffeine, my body couldn’t stay hydrated enough. Over the past few months, I’ve lowered my intake to only one cup of coffee a day. And that’s a normal cup of coffee, not a gigantic one! I used to drink four huge cups of coffee every day, so if I can cut back, you can too! (One thing I’m really enjoying now is tea. The amount of caffeine in a cup of tea is less than half what is in a cup of coffee.)
3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. This might seem obvious, but I think that eating more fruits and veggies is something that we think we are doing (like with our water intake), until we start making a note of what we are actually eating. Once you start recording and looking at what you eat, you will probably find that you could do a lot better. I know that when I am intentional about getting enough servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day, I don’t have my usual cravings for carbs. Plus, eating what is fresh, on sale, and in season (what God has provided) gives me a great variety of foods and the nutrients my body needs.
4. Incorporate more healthy fats. You can enjoy healthy fats, and there are several to choose from. So instead of unhealthy fats like fried foods and greasy chips, you can enjoy almonds, walnuts, black and green olives, avocados, and even dark chocolate! These healthy foods fill me up longer and keep me from craving sweets.
5. Enjoy more whole grains. I’m very excited to share that as a family, we have completely removed processed and bleached grains from our diet. We’re doing all whole grains: oats, whole wheat flour—in fact, we grind our own wheat-berries for the flour to retain all the nutrients. One way to do this is with whole grain snacks like Quaker® Popped™. This is a snack you can feel good about, because it’s made with whole grain brown rice and corn, and it’s popped, not fried.
What 5 small steps are you taking toward a healthier lifestyle in the new year? Are you planning to drink more water? Perhaps you want to focus on more fruits and vegetables versus meats and carbs. Tell us how you are planning a healthier lifestyle in 2013, Focusing in being mindful and stressing less; exercising more? Does changing up your snacking habits fit it? Quaker Popped Rice Snacks are a great way to do this!
Quaker® Quakes® are now Quaker® PoppedTM – a new name for the snack made with the delicious goodness of whole grain brown rice and corn and a great snacking solution.
Reply below for your chance to win a sample of all 14 flavors of Quaker Popped Rice Snacks and $1,000 gift card to help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions.This contest has ended.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker. I received product in conjunction with this post. The opinions and text are all mine. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See Official Sweepstakes Rules
