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JANUARY - 2009
You are what you eat and drink! Look at the beverages you consume. Water is the best thing to drink. Limit your juices and other sweet drinks. Caffeinated beverages dehydrate you – so think water, herbal tea, or maybe a pitcher of water with slices of orange or lemon for flavor.
FEBRUARY - 2009
Snacks - need something to munch in the car or around the house? Keep fruits and vegetables like pears, grapes, or green beans that are easy to grab and ready to eat. Cater to convenience. If you buy celery, chop it up right away and put it in a bag. Otherwise, if you are short of time and want a quick snack, it will feel like too much work to chop it up.
MARCH - 2009
No matter what the weather, try to exercise for 20 minutes a day. Whether you walk in the mall, go to the gym, bike, or ski, just get out and move each day doing something. Sometimes my work out is walking back and forth carrying groceries or taking the stairs instead of elevators.
APRIL - 2009
Have rules for what foods come in your house. My rules are no white sugar or flour. I can eat those at other people homes or at restaurants, but not in my house. I do most of my eating in the evening when I am home. So, everything in my home should be reasonably good for me. If I can’t sit down and enjoy it guilt-free, I do not bring it in. Overeating in the evening or nervous, emotional eating gets many people in trouble. Since many people do this at home, limit what comes in and watch yourself make healthier choices.
MAY - 2009
Introduce your family and yourself to a new food or dish. Having a variety of foods keeps our taste buds excited. If you do not know how to cook or prepare it, ask someone at the store or look online for help. When I bought Maui onions for the first time, I was told to just cook them with a little olive oil. Everyone who walked in my house said, “It smells like the holidays.” It was fun trying something new. We all get in ruts and a new item is like a little adventure that may become a favorite food.
JUNE - 2009
Get rid of the old. When you go to replace staples like catsup, take the time to read the label. If it has corn syrup or other ingredients that do not sound good to you, make a change. Find a family catsup that gets your ingredient approval. Your family may notice at first, but they will get used to it. No need to throw out what you have, just make better choices when it comes time to buy a new bottle.
OCTOBER - 2009
Learn what your ideal sleep formula is. What is the best time for you to get in bed, go to sleep, wake up? One mom I know puts her kids to bed at 7:45pm because they wake up so early. Getting the right type of sleep can determine the entire quality of your day. Turn the TV off, that email can wait until tomorrow, let yourself wind down. Find your bedtime routine and stick to it as much as possible. And, consider a nap if you need it.
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