Welcome back to Healthy Grocery Girl and Happy New Year! I love the new year its a new chapter and a great time to refresh after the holiday season. Today Im sharing 10 Tips for Starting A Healthy Lifestyle. These tips are a great reminder for all of us, whether youre starting new healthy habits or needing a refresher!
As an ambassador for Sunsweet, I am partnering with them on todays video! So, a few of my tips and the recipe shared will incorporate Sunsweets Amaz!n Prunes along with other dried fruits and show how incorporating them into your diet can help you feel good in the new year! Id also love to learn more about what you do to feel good in the new year, share with us in the comments below! Dont forget to follow me on Instagram @healthygrocerygirl and now lets get started!
Start the day with fresh air and exercise!
I love to go on a morning walk with my daughter. Fresh air and exercise boosts my mood, improves blood circulation and gives me more energy that lasts all day long. There is no such thing as a bad workout, so do what you can whether its for 5 minutes or an hour!
Consume more real, wholesome snacks
One of my favorite snacks is DIY trail mix. I love a handful of Sunsweet dried fruits whether its Sunsweet Prunes, Dates or Apricots and then a handful of nuts. These dried fruits add natural sweetness, energizing carbohydrates, and fiber, as well as vitamin and minerals! Pair with nuts and seeds, such as almonds for protein, fiber & healthy fats, and this snack will keep you feeling energized and full to avoid an energy crash. Tip: Studies show that eating 5-6 prunes a day can help improve your bone health.
Your Mental Health Matters
How are you doing? Your emotions, thoughts, concerns, frustrations and fears matter. Youre not alone. If youre struggling in life through a certain season of waiting, disappointment, stress, fatigue or worry, the best thing you can do for your mental health is to share what youre feeling. Talk it out with a trusted friend, family member or therapist. Keeping a journal is also a really great way to purge or work through whats in your mind that may be causing you anxiety. No matter what youre going through, know that youre not alone, you are worthy and that you are doing a great job. There are other people who can relate to your story and its okay to ask for help!
Stay hydrated
We all know we need to stay hydrated and drink water however, its so easy to forget or to reach for beverages that may be dehydrating, such as drinks high in caffeine. If regular water is boring, try adding fresh lemon juice, herbal teas or herbal iced-tea as a great way to make hydration more fun and tastier!
Better Sleep
The quality of sleep you get is just important as the quantity! The amount of sleep a person needs to feel their best may vary person to person. If you find yourself struggling, turn off the TV and unplug from social media at least 30-60 minutes before bed, make sure your room is not too hot or cold, blackout your room (we sleep better when its really dark!) and diffuse calming essential oils if youd like such as lavender and chamomile.
Plant-Powered
Whether you eat vegan, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free or any other way a diet rich in plant-based foods is truly best to support your short-term and long-term health goals. This is because plant-based foods have antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber, which can help with things such as digestion, gut health, immunity and hormone health. Smoothies are one of my favorite ways to pack in fruits and veggies. For example, this Prune Protein Shake has an unexpected veggie frozen cauliflower which I promise you cant taste! Throwing in prunes is a great way to add fiber and natural sweetness without the added sugar to help you feel your best. Prunes are also lower in naturally occurring sugar compared to other dried fruits!
- 3 Sunsweet Amaz!n Prunes
- cup of frozen cauliflower
- 1 banana
- Cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Almond butter
- Optional protein powder
- 1 cup Coconut milk
- Blend all ingredients together & enjoy!
Spend time alone
This can be hard to do especially when youre a mom. However, we all need a time out or break occasionally. When were able to unplug from social media and spend quiet time alone we can gather our thoughts and emotions. Silence is also very restoring and restful! You may go on a walk, take a bath or even run a few errands alone!
Gratitude
Focus on the good and the good gets better! To be honest, this doesnt always work. Sometimes life is really hard and its okay to be sad, feel your feelings and honor what youre going through. However, I find most of the time that what I am worried about doesnt happen or when it does, it goes a lot better than Id anticipated! Reflecting on how far youve come or what youve overcome can shift your mindset from stress to feeling strong and optimistic. Lets try it! Right now, think of 3 things in life you are grateful for OR hard moments youve overcome!
Meal Plan
Whats for dinner? The question we all dread near the end of the day. Meal prep does not have to be a Sunday marathon of grocery shopping, prepping every meal and snack for the week and then feeling so exhausted that you order a pizza! Instead, pick 2-3 meals youd like to make that week and make enough extra for leftovers. I love making soups or chilis because they are an easy way to pack in so many veggies, herbs and spices as well as protein and fiber. These Prune Protein Cookies make a great snack or on-the-go breakfast option! Make a double batch because they wont last long!
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Get Organized
A cluttered home may contribute to feeling overwhelmed, anxious and out of control. If you spend a few minutes each day throughout the week tidying up, it can bring you peace and more enjoyment for your living space whether thats at work or home! Health is holistic meaning that there are so many interconnected pieces that contribute to our health beyond food & nutrition. Your environment, stress levels, mental health, sleep, emotions and of course food and movement all play a role in helping you achieve your overall healthiest life!
Id love to learn what are your favorite healthy lifestyle tips or habits? Share with us in the comments below! Thats it for todays video! Thank you for watching and subscribing and Ill see you in the next video!
Disclosure: This blog post is sponsored by Sunsweet.
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