This time of year, many people make New Year's resolutions, and if one of the latest surveys is to be believed, 26 per cent of them involve eating healthier. We have a food and health theme on Wednesdays, so what better way to summarise some thoughts on healthy New Year's resolutions, diets and healthy eating in the long run?
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Our food and health theme
What, a food and health theme on a travel blog? Yes, although our focus is travelling, we do blog about other things sometimes. And health is important to be able to travel! Then, I, Helena, happen to work as a public health scientists with a focus on food and physical activity. Peter thought I should write about food and health and there have been five posts so far:
- Food is more than nutrition - thoughts on food and health
- Research on food and health - what to believe?
- Cheap and healthy - can you eat healthy on a budget?
- Healthy eating at Christmas - do you need to think about it?
- Childhood Christmas - food memories and traditions
New Year's resolutions for better health - good or bad?
Of course, you can start new healthy habits any day of the year, but if the New Year feels like a good time for a fresh start, that's great! The challenge of course is to "promise" things that you can stick to in the long run. If you "take it from the toes" and decide on very big changes, there is a risk that you get tired after a few weeks.
Healthy food is also about absolutely not just about keeping or losing weight, but New Year's resolutions and diets often have this focus, so it will also be a bit of a focus for today's blog post.
Should you choose a specific diet?
Diets often involve avoiding certain foods or groups of foods, and the aim is often to lose weight. One diet may be about avoiding fat, while another is about avoiding carbohydrates. The advantage of this - for some - may be that it is clear what to avoid, making it easier to limit calorie intake. The disadvantage is that there is a risk of not getting the nutrition you need.
Do the diets work - and are some better than others?
Some diets are often marketed as 'magic', not least by those who make money from websites, books or products related to the diet. In fact, most diets show roughly the same results in research studies: if you manage to reduce calories in some way, you manage to lose weight.
What is "magical" is therefore often about what you enjoy, and thus manage to stick to in the long run. For some people, it is easier to reduce calories extra much on certain days of the week (i.e. semi-fasting, such as 5:2), while for others it is easier to reduce a little every day. If you want to read more about different weight loss diets, you can do so at National Food Agency.
Making small changes
For many of us, the absolute best and smartest New Year's resolution (or ok, promise regardless of the day!) can be to make some small changes in our daily lives. Changes that you make each day have a big impact in the long run, even if they are small. Here are some examples of changes you can make:
- At certain times, replace high-calorie drinks (soft drinks, juice, beer, wine) with water.
- Let the vegetables take up more space on the dinner plate.
- Sometimes boil or bake food instead of frying it.
- Make cold sauce from sour cream instead of buying ready-made sauces.
- Serve vegetable sticks with dip instead of chips with dip.
- Eat chocolate and sweets with pleasure and caution.
What are your experiences with New Year's resolutions and diets?
We haven't made a New Year's resolution, but last autumn we decided to new better habitsfor several reasons. We deviated a bit from this over Christmas, but are trying to get back "on track" again. Have you ever made a New Year's resolution about food or diet? Or do you have any other experience with diets? How did it go for you? Tell us!
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Solan says:
Forgot about the New Year's resolution!
But Helena, thank you for your health orientated Wednesdays. Thank you also for writing "magically" like this. This poor worn-out word in almost all contexts....
Take care and don't sit still in the boat! 😉
06 January 2021 - 8:42
Helena says:
Glad you like my health days 🙂 And haha, I agree, magic is a worn out word. I am certainly guilty of it myself sometimes, but try to avoid, haha 😉 Hope all is well with you!!!!
06 January 2021 - 13:37
4000mil says:
I never make New Year's resolutions, I think it's a bit silly. As you say, you can change things in your life any day of the year.
Last year, however, it became a New Year's resolution as a bit of a joke. (And on occasion) And it was zero tolerance for mansplaining and men who want to occupy my time talking about themselves.
I think I'll keep working on that New Year's resolution for a few more years. 🙂
06 January 2021 - 10:59
Helena says:
Haha, what a great New Year's resolution! You can definitely run on that for a while 🙂
06 January 2021 - 13:38
Nils-Åke+Hansson says:
New Year's resolution no not here, just try to eat healthy and exercise. Now with Diabetes I have to think a bit more about how I eat.
06 January 2021 - 11:24
Helena says:
Better to think about it in everyday life than just after the New Year 😉 And of course extra important with diabetes. Have fun!
06 January 2021 - 13:38
Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:
No New Year's resolutions here, so I don't have to break any😀.
I am a great believer in common sense and good food education.
I know for the most part what I put in my body, whether it is good or not. Which doesn't mean that I always eat right, but I mostly know when I'm wrong. But sometimes you learn new things about food too. For example, when my cholesterol got a little high, not a lot, but a little. Then I needed to learn what was good for this, a lot I didn't know before.
Enjoyed reading about your thoughts on food. It is so important how we think about food, something that has often been overlooked.
Have a nice weekend!
06 January 2021 - 11:32
Helena says:
Nice to not have to break promises! 😉 For many of us, it is probably exactly as you describe. You know fairly well what is good, but there are many other things that affect our food choices 😉 Same here, I eat far from perfect, although of course I think about what I put in me and try to find some kind of balance.
06 January 2021 - 13:44
Lena - good for the soul says:
Well, I don't think I've ever made a New Year's resolution. Possibly sometime in my teens. And I've never believed in diets. I have never followed one and have never "dieted". Of course, I haven't had any reason to. Maybe it's because I believe in a better diet and movement more or less constantly rather than temporary measures. It just seems hard and boring. And it is so wonderful to move!
Hug Lena
06 January 2021 - 14:32
Ditte says:
No New Year's resolutions here. But I have always been a fan of a balanced diet and plenty of exercise. I have never understood diets and never tried to lose weight. However, I believe in not eating more than the body uses and not "too often" filling up with empty calories. Feels like some people eat too much and perhaps as a substitute for other things. And then it is immediately more tricky ...
Consider the thoughts of "Lena - Good for the soul".
06 January 2021 - 18:03
BP says:
The combination of New Year and promises, regardless of what the promises are for, I don't believe in at all. You always see that at the Sats gym in Täby Centrum. As many fast exercisers as possible who have received a gym card as a Christmas present. It lasts until Trettondagen about, they are tired of it. The same goes for diets, I would think. Do not believe in diets either. They do not last in the long run. Common sense usually lasts the longest when it comes to healthy eating.
PS. Cooked fish is good. Everyone says so. But why does boiled fish always look so unappetising... Your wok with scampi, on the other hand, is completely in my taste:-) DS.
06 January 2021 - 19:51