It’s the new year. WE MADE IT!

We’ll let that sink in for a moment.

Ahhhh. Feels good. OK. So what now? We believe this new year calls for some new year’s resolutions. Yes yes we know… ‘resolutions’ is a cheesy word.

But resolutions aren’t about changing who you are or what you enjoy. They shouldn’t be something you dread.

New year’s resolutions should be exciting! They should be small, incremental changes that will benefit you, one day at a time. It’s all about being a little bit healthier, and a little bit happier.

So we’re not going to suggest you just ‘eat healthy food’ or ‘switch to a healthy diet.’

Instead, we’re going to recommend 5 ways you can be just a little bit healthier in the new year. Nothing drastic. But something effective. Here ya go:

1. Do a little more physical activity per day

This can be ANYTHING as long as you get your body moving. Walk around the block. Do some backyard yoga. Watch and do an at-home workout video. Hit the gym and crush some weights. Whatever you’re comfortable with, as long as you’re pushing yourself just a little bit.

We recommend staying active for 30 minutes a day, just enough activity to see some real health benefits. You can even start lower than that, 15-20 minutes, and work your way up.

Remember: The hardest part is to START moving. Once you’re going, it gets a whole lot easier.

2. Have a little more protein in your diet

We’ve all heard about the importance of a high protein diet. Protein not only builds and repairs muscles, but is also a major source of energy for our bodies throughout the day. Experts actually say that one of the biggest reasons for daily fatigue is attributed to a lack of protein.

So whether it’s a high protein breakfast, lunch, dinner, post workout, or midday snack, make sure you’re consuming at least 2-3 servings of protein per day.

Remember: Not all protein is meat. Check out a list of high protein foods HERE.

3. Have a little less sugar in your diet

Again, we aren’t telling you to eliminate sweets or treats from your diet. That would not be cool of us. And we like to be cool. 

With that said, experts recommend 9 teaspoons of sugar per day max. That’s the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of soda. If too much sugar is consumed per day, that could increase blood pressure, chances of liver and heart problems, a whole bunch of stuff we don’t want to get into.

Remember: Everything in moderation (my grandma used to say that).

4. Be a little more mindful of your snacking 

SNACKSSSSSSSSS. We all love snacks. Once that 3pm work-break comes around, we hit the cupboard and don’t look back. But what’s your go-to snack? A bag of chips? Pretzels? A chocolate bar?

Whatever it is, we as Americans have a bit of an issue when it comes to over-snacking. We consume almost a meal’s worth of food while snacking and end up eating or drinking too much food in one day.

So, this resolution is just to be mindful of your snacking habits. A couple ways you can mediate this is by snacking only 1-2 times per day, and limiting yourself to healthier snacks: fruits & veggies, smoothies, low-sugar chips or pretzels, or high protein snacks like energy bars or nuts.

Remember: Healthier snacks CAN be delicious, you just have to find them!

5. Do A LOT of what makes YOU feel good

THIS is the most important new year’s resolution we can possibly recommend. No matter what your goals are for the new year, make sure you are happy and excited to achieve them. Eat and drink the things that put a smile on your face.

Remember: Health & happiness are best buds. Like these two:

Wishing you a healthier and happier new year! 

Cheers,

The Slate Milk Squad