Written by Nutrition Expert Maddie Pasquariello, MS RDN
Whether you’re a New Year’s resolutions person or not, January is, for many, a time to recenter and figure out how you want to go into the new year – and that’s something very valuable to your overall health and happiness. Whether you’ve been traveling a lot, eating a little differently than usual, or just feeling less than 100% thanks to all the excitement the Holidays can bring, there’s nothing wrong with checking in with yourself, setting up some healthy habits and goals to kick off a new season, a new year – or even just a new week.
The way I approach goal setting when it comes to nutrition is somewhat more fluid and constant (because why wait for a new year if something’s not working, right?), but this approach can absolutely apply to any time of year you’re looking to change your diet and level up your nutrition intake.
Some of the things that have helped me most when it comes to sustainable, healthy nutrition habits include planning out a few things for the week to set myself up for success, making sure meals are balanced, shopping strategically, and (when I can) eating with the season. Let’s break it down:
While this time of year offers many possibilities for change, it’s not the time to pressure yourself. Overall, starting a new year, setting healthy eating intentions, and kick-starting your nutrition habits is all about tuning (back) into your body’s cues. If you’re someone wholoves a routine and schedule, maybe creating a new morning routine that includes a nutritious smoothie is in the cards for you. If you love to have a mid-day reset and have the privilege of spending more time making lunch, maybe that’s what you commit to each day. Or maybe you set the goal of learning a new recipe or cooking technique each week. It’s up to you to set up routines and habits that make most sense for your body and lifestyle.
About Maddie Pasquariello
Maddie is a Registered Dietitian with a Masters Degree in Nutrition Communications and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She currently works in Public Relations for small food and wellness brands as well as hospitality properties, while cooking up delicious new recipes and experimenting in her kitchen in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She focuses her work on performance based nutrition and dispelling nutrition myths, while helping active people live healthier lives.
Find Maddie on IG @eastcoasthealth and TikTok @mpasqu.