How To Stick To Your New Year’s Diet Resolutions

How To Stick To Your New Year’s Diet Resolutions

It’s come to that time of the year when many of us are fighting to stay on top of our New Year’s diet resolutions. After a few weeks of dieting, eating the same foods can get dull, and going back to work can make it tempting to lapse into old ways to save time and energy.

The key to staying on track? To keep it fresh with new recipes and combinations, and to be realistic about how much time you have to prepare your meals. This will help you to stay motivated and foster a sustainable pattern of eating that will last all year round.

In this article, we will share our top tips for keeping on top of your New Year’s Diet Resolutions.

1. Keep It Fresh

To avoid the diet boredom, it is essential to keep regularly mixing up the meals you eat. Perhaps there is a new cuisine you’ve always wanted to try cooking, such as Middle Eastern or Asian dishes? Or maybe there is a fruit or vegetable you rarely cook with which you could try incorporating into new dishes?

For example, try adding pomegranate into roasted vegetable dishes for a burst of sweet freshness, or you can use other fruits in vegetable dishes for a balanced flavour, such as by incorporating pieces of apple and dates in tagines. You may want to try using vegetables you rarely use, or finding recipes which help you to enjoy a vegetable you may not usually like, such as aubergine or cabbage.

You can also try experimenting with fresh herbs to add more flavour to your dishes. Growing herbs from home can be fun and rewarding, and you don’t even need a garden – you can easily grow fresh herbs in pots on your kitchen windowsill. Cress and beansprouts can simply be sprouted on a piece of damp kitchen roll in a plastic pot, no compost required!

Finding ways to help you to enjoy your new lifestyle can help you to stay motivated and try new and exciting dishes you may not otherwise have eaten. So why not mix it up a bit and see which new and interesting combinations tickle your palette!

2. Be Realistic

Everybody enters into their New Year’s Resolutions with good intentions, but sooner or later, life often gets in the way. If you work long hours, you may find you are too exhausted to cook, and as such, it is essential to find recipes which are quick and easy to help you out on the days when you just can’t find the energy.

Finding proteins which are quick and easy to prepare can be a huge boost to your new habits, such as eggs, which take minutes to prepare, or vegetarian protein sources like tofu, which can be baked, stir-fried, or grilled quickly.

Using technology can also be a great help here – using a slow cooker is a great way to get meat tender, or to make vegetarian or vegan dishes such as bean chilli or jackfruit curry.

You could also try using an air fryer, which greatly reduces your oil use, and can cut calories by up to 80% while keeping the beloved crunchy flavour of fried foods. Air fryers are quick and easy to use, and an excellent resource for those nights when you’re craving some homemade fast food.

3. Don’t Forget Breakfast!

If you work long shifts, it can be tempting to simply bolt down a coffee and head out the door. But skipping breakfast can result in blood sugar drops at midday, making you more prone to overeating and bingeing on fast foods later on.

Make sure you eat a balanced breakfast, with a good amount of protein and high-fibre fruits and vegetables. Smoothies are very quick to make, and if buying fresh fruits and vegetables is a drain on your wallet, you can buy frozen fruits and vegetables at much cheaper prices. It’s even thought that frozen fruits and vegetables may be healthier than ‘fresh’, as the freezing process seals in nutrients which may otherwise have been lost in storage.

Combine your fresh or frozen produce with milk, milk substitutes, and yoghurt for a protein-kick which will keep you going all day long. We love a banana, oat and yoghurt smoothie for a high-energy, high protein and high-fibre smoothie which keeps your blood sugars balanced throughout the day.

If you have more of a savoury tooth, shakshuka is a great source of protein from its signature poached eggs and contains high levels of fibre and Vitamin A from the tomato and vegetable base. It also gives you a boost from the spices – such as chilli and cayenne – which kicks your metabolism up a notch, firing your body into action for the day ahead.

If you want something savoury to grab and go, you can also try freezing leftover curries, chillis or roasted vegetables from your dinners – simply pop them in the microwave, add to a wholemeal tortilla or pitta, and you’re ready to head to work!

4. Find Healthy Alternatives

If your cravings are getting in the way, why not look up healthier alternatives to your favourite foods? Making simple swaps is a great way to beat the cravings, as they give you the taste and sensation of all the foods you love, while continuing to cut calories and boost your nutrient intake.

Try swapping your usual potato fries for air-fried sweet potato chips, or substituting salt for a dash of soy sauce or coconut aminos. Homemade curries are always healthier than a takeaway, and can often taste better, especially if they are left to mature overnight. Plus, Kombucha is an excellent alternative to sugary fizzy drinks, providing a sparkling sensation while being available in a variety of flavours, and containing digestion-supporting probiotics and minimal sugar.

Also, if you’re working on reducing your alcohol intake, why not try a CBD drink, for all the relaxing and mood-boosting effects, without any of the health impacts?

5. High Protein, High Fibre

Opting for high-protein and high-fibre dishes with minimal fats, sugars, and refined carbohydrates can help to keep you feeling full while reducing your calorie intake.

Combining fibrous foods such as fruits and vegetables with low-fat protein sources such as reduced-fat yoghurts, lean meats, tofu, beans, and legumes can help to keep you satisfied for long periods, and help to support your digestion.

Use reduced amounts of healthy carbohydrates such as brown or wild rice, wholegrain wheat, and oats to boost your energy, while avoiding refined and sugary carbohydrates such as white bread and cakes.

Eating satisfying foods helps to keep hunger at bay, making it more likely that you will stick to your new year’s diet plan!