If your New Year’s Resolution to eat better is out of sight, take heart. A local nutritionist says there is still plenty of time for people to achieve their goal of healthier eating in 2015. “Developing healthier eating habits is a gradual process, so don’t be disheartened if you have slipped up a bit on your resolution,” says Elsie Azevedo Perry, a Registered Dietitian with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “Think of healthy eating as a marathon, not a sprint, where slow and steady progress will win you the race!”
The Health Unit offers the following tips for people trying to get back on track with healthy eating:
• Keep a food journal of what you eat each day. “Tracking what you eat helps you become more aware of your food choices,” says Azevedo Perry. “You can then reflect on what you’re eating, and change your habits to make more nutritious choices.” Apps for mobile devices can also help track food intake. One of the best is the free eaTracker app (www.eatracker.ca) for iPhone and Android devices. Users of the app can check their food and activity choices, analyze recipes and plan meals.
• Skip quick-fixes such as cleanses, detoxes and fad diets. Many of the claims made by detoxes and cleanses are unproven, and can have negative effects, Azevedo Perry notes.
• Be mindful of portion sizes. “Often the larger our portion sizes, the more we tend to eat,” Azevedo Perry says. By revisiting their food portions, people can lose or maintain their weight. She notes this can be done in simple ways, such as switching to smaller plates and containers.