February – Have you kept up your New Year’s resolution?

Did you know?
January was the longest month EVER – Said everyone across the country

A survey carried out at the end of 2017 among 1,170 adults showed that the most common New Year’s resolution is to “eat better”. Regardless of New Year’s resolutions, staying healthy should be top of everyone’s mind and good nutrition is one way to help maintain good health.

Don’t skip meals

So often, people skips meals in a bid to lose weight. Enjoying regular meals and snacks throughout the day helps to prevents blood sugar levels from dropping which is often the cause of mid-afternoon sugar cravings.

Research has shown that eating breakfast is positively associated with a healthy body weight. The first meal of the day kick starts the day and is an important meal for important vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats and slow release carbs that will help you get through the morning.
Fresh and dried fruit, unsalted nuts, vegetable sticks and popcorn are ideal snacks to keep at hand. Sowan’s provide handy 100 calorie portion packs of nuts to help keep you on track if you’re watching your weight.

Step away from the desk

Tempting as it is to eat and work at the same time, research has shown that this type of behaviour encourages “mindless eating” and is likely to lead to overeating. Taking just 30 minutes at lunch to prepare a healthy meal can help clear your mind and result in better productivity.

Have you ever worked or studied for hours on end and find yourself being distracted by the smallest of things? Your brain likes change, so step away from the computer and become a Master Chef – even if it is only to make scrambled egg. For lunch inspiration check out my Instagram.

Meal Prep

We spend (too) many hours of our lives studying and working so why not spend a few minutes meal prepping to help us perform at our best?

To avoid wasting time on shopping, chopping and cooking, be “savvy” and do some batch cooking. Soups, curries and lasagne are just a few examples of nutritious and delicious meals that that be cooked in large quantities and frozen in individual portions, ready to be defrosted and popped in the microwave. One of my favourite Drop Chef dinners to batch cook is the Vegetarian Paella . With a little splash of water, this reheats to something so beautiful and creamy, you’ll want to eat it every day.

If you find yourself craving something sweet after lunch, munch on a piece of fruit or if you are really craving chocolate, opt for a square or two of dark chocolate.

Drink Up

With water bottles now becoming a fashion statement, there really is no excuse for being dehydrated. Poor intake of fluids can leave you feeling sleepy and grumpy. Keep hydrated with water (still or sparking), cordial, milk, coffee, tea or herbal teas.

Don’t skip meals, snack smart, meal prep and stay hydrated. New Year’s resolutions can be intimidating. Make one commitment to be the healthiest version of yourself and you’ll not need to make any more #newyearnewme promises.

For more meal inspiration and ideas, follow The Baking Nutritionist on Facebook and Instagram .

Amy Meegan, BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition, UCD