How’s your healthy diet New Year’s resolution? If you’re already bored with standard staples of healthy food, you may be in need of a culinary adventure to reignite your goal of eating a healthier, more balanced meal plan this year.
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Make it a vacation experience. One of the joys of traveling is enjoying the food and recipes of different cultures. This winter, save your vacation money and make a plan to travel in your kitchen. There are tremendous health benefits to some of the world’s most delicious culinary cultures. Greek food, for example, is heavy in vegetables, lean meats, and healthy-fat olive oils; while Japanese food boasts heart-healthy fresh fish. You don’t have to earn a degree from culinary school to experiment with flavor at home and get the home cooked taste of a far off country.
Spice it up. Many herbs and spices add flavor to your food and nutrition to your plate.While you’re having a culinary vacation, exploring the healthy benefits of international cuisine, consider the benefits of the spices commonly found in Indian food. Spices like turmeric, ginger, and chilis make your standard fare far more interesting, while giving your immune system and heart health an added boost.
Upgrade your kitchen. You don’t need to remodel your kitchen to enjoy cooking more. Just reorganizing your pantry or refrigerator may have health benefits, and certainly can make cooking more enjoyable. Instead of wasting valuable time and energy searching for your favorite condiment or kitchen utensil, having an organized kitchen allows you to cook more quickly and more happily. An organized kitchen may make you healthier, too. When you open the fridge to see cleaned and prepped produce front and center, you may unconsciously begin to make healthier decisions. If the carrots and celery are as easy to grab as the junk food, you minimize the decision making necessary when you’re already hungry. Reorganizing your pantry and refrigerator in a way that allows you to make easy, healthy decisions in a rush can be a huge step in the right direction.
Make it social. If you’re tired of your go-to healthy recipes, host a dinner party and ask each friend to bring their favorite, homemade, healthy dish. You might be surprised at how a friend uses flavor or spices differently than you. Not only are you bringing your night out in for a more cost and calorie efficient dinner with friends, but you’re allowing yourself to explore cooking skills that might inspire you to think about healthy food differently. Combine this with your tastebud-travel-adventure and you and your friends and family can enjoy time together in a healthier way in 2020.
How do you mix up a healthy diet when you feel stuck? We’re all in this together, so share your comments below!
