As we turn off our favorite holiday soundtracks, finish up the last of this year’s delectable goodies, and store away our lights and decorations, it’s not uncommon to feel the letdown of the holiday season coming to an end. But, rather than just accepting the holiday’s closure, we can embrace it whole heartedly with new goals and ambitions for the upcoming year – with our New Year’s resolutions. And while resolutions often restrict us from some of life’s favorite indulgences, goals are much more attainable when we aim to do something rather than not do something.
Take one of my favorite plant-powered pieces of advice from my book The Plant-Powered Diet to boost your health this year:
*Consume a handful – about 1 to 2 ounces – of nuts, such as peanuts, each day.
And for peanuts, that’s a lot – about 28 nuts in total! Even better, you can get your daily allotment in the form of peanut butter by spreading it on whole grain bread or crackers, using it in baked goods to replace refined oils, or stirred into sauces and marinades for a rich, earthy flavor. Peanuts are great additions to your New Year’s diet plan in part because their combination of good fats and fiber help fight hunger to keep you feeling fuller longer, in addition to their other nutritional virtues and benefits. Who knew a New Year’s resolution could taste so good?
Try making this recipe for dinner tonight to start your New Year’s resolution off on the right foot: Spicy Bok Choy with Noodles and Peanuts.
Sharon Palmer is a registered dietitian, writer and author of The Plant-Powered Diet. Over 750 of her articles have been published in national publications, including Prevention, Better Homes and Gardens and Today’s Dietitian. She is also the editor of the award-winning publication Environmental Nutrition and writes for her blog, The Plant-Powered Dietitian. Sharon makes her home with her husband and two sons in the chaparral hills overlooking Los Angeles.
