Katie's Healthy Bites: 5 Healthy Addictions For 2011

When is comes to making New Year's resolutions, I often find my clients choose unrealistic goals that then lead to disappointment and a sense of failure. This year, do it differently: Develop healthy, achievable "addictions" that promote long-term lifestyle changes. No disappointment, just new experiences!
If you're not a regular cook, commit to cook dinner at home once or twice a week. This is a great way to get creative, save money and control what you are eating. I also think cooking is a great tool for stress relief. You might surprise yourself and start cooking even more regularly. Can't cook? A great healthy resolution would be to take a cooking class and try it out.
If you are looking to get active but are bored with the same old workout, try something new. There are fun activities out there like ballet/bar toning classes, dance classes and even pole-dancing classes. Make it your resolution to challenge yourself to a new activity…even if you end up hating it, you tried! No time or motivation to get to the gym? Just by taking the stairs, parking at the back of the lot and walking when able your body and waistline will be thankful.
Choose whole food options! Make it a point to buy foods that are not processed or preserved in any way and limit the boxed, bagged and frozen stuff. A good rule to follow: If it won’t eventually rot don’t buy it.
Add one serving of fruits and or veggies to your current daily diet. This is an easy goal, and by adding healthy options into your meals, you often crowd out the less healthy stuff you munch on day to day.
Even if you don’t cut soda, juice or other sweetened beverages completely, you will save calories and be better hydrated by switching one serving for a glass of H20 every day.
Katie Cavuto Boyle, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian, personal chef and owner of HealthyBites, LLC. See Katie's full bio »