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Have you vowed that you’re going to eat better this year? It’s a good resolution to make, health is everything and that really starts with what we put into our bodies. But as we all know, new year’s resolutions are tricky things, and it doesn’t take much for us to fall back into our old habits. If you want to keep your health kick going, here are some of the ways you can go about it!

Plan ahead

One of the reasons so many people fail when it comes to eating healthy, is that they don’t plan ahead. When you run out of ingredients or just don’t know what to cook, it’s so easy to resort to an unhealthy takeaway. If you want to succeed, you need to plan ahead, it doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Simply write out a list of the dinners you’re going to cook each evening, and create a grocery list based on this. Make sure you’re well stocked in things like breakfast cereal, eggs and store cupboard sandwich fillers such as tuna and salmon. That way, you don’t risk running out and keeping up with your healthy plan is so much easier. If you’re pushed for time in the evenings, meal prep your lunches in advance so each day you can grab a container out of the fridge so you’re good to go. There are loads of ideas online to help you keep it interesting.

Use a meal kit service

If you really struggle with shopping for ingredients as well as coming up with interesting ideas, meal kit services will suit you to a tee. You can choose recipes that have been carefully curated, and you’re sent a box with these specific ingredients in. There are lots on the market, look at Blue Apron vs Home Chef for example. Ideal if you’re stretched for time, or just want to make healthy eating as convenient as possible.

Create healthy versions of your favorites

If you constantly restrict yourself and see your favorite foods as ‘bad’ or off limits, it’s just going to cause you to crave them more. Instead, how about creating healthier versions? Homemade frozen yogurt contains far less fat and calories than ice cream but can give you the same cold, sweet fix. Instead of heading to KFC, try making your own spicy coated chicken burgers baked in the oven? Even pizza can be made lighter, make your own dough with whole wheat flour or use a tortilla as a base. Add light mozzarella and veggies on top with a side salad. Cookies can be made with oats and raisins and sweetened with sugar alternatives, just be sure to keep an eye on your portion size. It’s a way for you to get a taste of your favorite things without messing up your healthy eating plan by putting away too many calories! Creating these kinds of recipes gets you in the kitchen and cooking too which is always a good thing, the better your skills, the easier you’ll find creating healthy, delicious meals.

What strategies have you adopted to help you stay on track this new year?