United Supermarkets’ Top Tips to Start the New Year Right

Many of us ring in the new year with resolutions to eat better, get healthier, or lose weight. Statistically speaking, many will not hold on to those great intentions for long.

United Supermarkets' Corporate Dietician Brenda Garcia advocates smart, incremental changes year-round to encourage lasting change. Not only does Happy + Nourished, the blog produced by Garcia and her team, provide nutrition tips and recipes, it also advocates for the 80/20 approach. That essentially means that you get 80 percent of your calories from healthy foods and the rest from "fun foods" to encourage guilt-free moderation.

With that in mind, here are some tips from Garcia and her team for kicking off the new year the right way:

1) Choose your indulgences. Let's say you plan to sink your teeth into a gooey frosted brownie. You might want to watch your other sugar and calorie intake and avoid high-calorie, high-sugar drinks the rest of the day. A great alternative, Garcia says, is tea. Ginger tea might have some antibacterial, anti-viral properties, and peppermint tea supports good digestion. Plus, teas come in lots of fun flavors and can be lightly sweetened with just a touch of honey.

2) Focus on building a better plate. You can learn more about My Plate here, but in general, you want about half your plate to be fruits and veggies, with the other half comprised of grains and proteins. Often, eating balanced meals will keep you feeling full longer while helping you get all the nutrients you need.

3) Take advantage of time-saving options, if they are helpful. Happy + Nourished has several recipes utilizing air fryers, which often is healthier and easier than sauteing or frying in oil. At United Supermarkets, check out their Grab and Go selection of seasoned proteins and veggies, and don't forget their staff will season and steam fish for you for no additional cost.

For more recipes and tips on incorporating healthy options into your diet, explore Happy + Nourished. If you scroll to the bottom of their main page, you can sign up for their newsletter, which sends you helpful tips and ideas right to your inbox!