Ditch the dieting resolutions this new year

Here’s why dieting isn’t the aspirational New Year’s resolution you might think it is.

Christmas is often a time to come together with friends and whānau for delicious food, a day off and some festive cheer. It can also mean our usual eating habits might be out of whack for a while.

In January, we are often bombarded with marketing and social media campaigns for detox diets, shakes, pills and dieting/weight loss advice to help us “get back on track” after the Christmas period.

Many studies have shown that these concerning ‘silver bullet solutions’ aren’t good for us in the long run and should be avoided in the first place. Contrary to what your Instagram feed is telling you, the science shows practising good oldfashioned balance, variation and moderation is key when it comes to eating and physical activity. So, instead of going down the route of dieting, photoshopped influencers and cleanses, we have some simple tips for you to consider:

Three easy and convenient ways to support healthier habits:

Adding in, rather than cutting out: Consider including more vegetables in your meals (and snacks) and eating a balanced plate with protein and whole grains. Sometimes, we snack on less healthy choices because we haven’t eaten enough from the core food groups during the day to keep us feeling satisfied. If you’re stuck for meal ideas try our Salad Generator to build a hearty salad using ingredients you already have on hand.
Take your time: It takes about 20 minutes for food to reach your stomach and send a signal to your brain that you are full (or that you need a little more). So, it can be a good idea to set your knife and fork down and have a breather.
Tune into your hunger: Hunger is a natural process which signals that our blood sugar stores are getting low and we need to refuel. Some of us may have become conditioned to ignore hunger signals or are no longer able to notice the subtle signs of the beginning of hunger. It’s also worth noting that your body needs food every day, no matter how much you ate the day before.

Final thoughts

If you are set on making a New Year’s resolution or goal this year, stick with something that is sustainable, achievable and realistic. Consider creating healthier habits, one change at a time – our brains get overwhelmed if we try to change too many things at once.

Also, keep in mind the Christmas and New Year period is just a few short weeks and doesn’t determine your overall health status. However, if you find thoughts of food overwhelming, or you have been cycling through different food fads recently, consider getting some one-on-one support through a Registered Dietitian or Registered Nutritionist.