5 tips to reach your nutrition goals this year

[5 MIN READ]

In this article:

• Celebrate National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is “Fuel for the Future.”
• Making small lifestyle changes can help you reach your nutrition goals.
• Learn more about diet and nutrition services.

Have you noticed that your well-intended New Year’s Resolutions have started to fall to the wayside?

Don’t get discouraged! This March is the 50th anniversary of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ National Nutrition Month. The 2023 “Fuel for the Future” theme reminds us all that the journey to a healthy lifestyle is a marathon, not a sprint.

Registered dietician, Tanja Pavlovic from the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership, offers 5 tips to plan and sustain a healthy lifestyle now and into the future.

Tip 1:  Make small changes over time.

Creating new habits takes time and trying to do it all at once is hard to sustain. Try making one change at a time and adding a new one with each success. Focus on small, achievable goals such as:

• Add two more servings of fruits or vegetables per day.
• Drink more water and less soda or juice.
• Cook one more meal at home weekly.

Tip 2:  Partner up.

A friend with similar goals can be great support and accountability partner, while also offering fresh perspectives. Schedule a regular check-in date to encourage each other’s progress and exchange ideas.

Tip 3:  Embrace a sense of adventure.

Good nutrition is not solely the realm of salads and smoothies. Explore your grocery store, and venture beyond the broccoli. You might also consider these ideas:

• Try one new food per week.
• Consider new herbs and spices. A vegetable you are sure you don’t like can be transformed with a pinch of this and a dash of that.
• Take a cooking class and learn ways to use these newfound ingredients and have some fun in the process.

Tip 4:  Check in with yourself.

Even small changes can affect our lives in unexpected ways. Take time to review your goals. How are the changes playing out in your life? Assess what works, what doesn’t, and make revisions as needed to stay on track.

Tip 5:  Enjoy the ride.

Lifestyle changes take time. Remember to recognize your achievements and celebrate your successes.

Learn more about the range of services, including diet and nutrition services, offered at Providence Regional Cancer Partnership here.