7 Tips to Master Your Healthy New Year’s Resolutions

Despite our best intentions, keeping our New Year’s resolutions is notoriously difficult. But what if you chose a resolution this year you could actually follow through?

Instead of picking a common resolution, like losing weight or giving up drinking, why don’t you simply make a resolution to be healthier, with small steps towards your goal?

In this guide we run through our top 7 tips to a healthier New Year, starting with the steps that will help make the lifestyle you crave a reality.

1. Try a new meal plan

First things first, you’re not expected to be an expert. Whatever your diet was in 2018, if you want to make a change, why not try a new meal plan? Then, once you’ve completed the meal plan, carry forward the recipes that worked for you and your lifestyle.

Everyone is different, so not everyone will want to eat the same things but, if you start with a meal plan you can then reuse your favourite recipes and adapt it to suit your needs and tastes.

2. Try switching ingredients

One quick and easy way to be healthier in 2019 is to make a few simple swaps. Swapping out one meat-based meal a week for a vegetarian or vegan one could help you on your way to getting more of the recommended nutrients and minerals you need for a healthy balanced diet.

Need some inspiration? Try our Kickstart Vegan Meal Plan. It’s full of inspiration for tasty animal-free breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes.

3. Try some new cooking gadgets

Keeping up the motivation to cook every day can be tricky, especially in the cold, dark months of January and February, but home cooking is one of the best ways of guaranteeing what you’re putting into your body.

Try gifting yourself some new culinary gadgets and equipment in the January sales to keep up the momentum – in wanting to use your new tools, you’ll find a renewed sense of motivation to spend more time in the kitchen.

4. Try something small

While it may seem like a big task to aim for a healthier overall lifestyle in the New Year, if you start with small steps it becomes a lot more manageable.

Whether that’s committing to one run a week or just writing out a healthy shopping list. One small step accomplished will have you feeling like you’re making progress and give you the motivation to keep going.

5. Try getting your friends and family involved

It’s much easier to make a lifestyle change with the support of friends and family. Whether that means getting your other half to commit to a healthier 2019 as well so you can do it together, or setting up a WhatsApp group with your friends so you can motivate each other when it starts getting difficult.

The move to be healthier shouldn’t be a radical overhaul of your entire life but, rather, small steps to a healthier lifestyle that starts to become habit. By involving your family you’ll not only ensure they’re eating better too but it’ll make it easier for you to maintain and stop you from slipping into bad habits.

6. Try making it easier for yourself

It doesn’t need to be difficult!

It should be enjoyable. Diets often fail because you’re removing things from your life you love and there’s a lot riding on the prospective long-term gains. The healthy changes to your lifestyle should be enjoyable changes that are easy to incorporate.

Few people have time to make a lavish healthy breakfast but, in missing breakfast, it can be easy to reach for an unhealthy snack come 11am when you’re starving hungry. Try a simple smoothie for breakfast instead.

You can opt for pre-prepared frozen fruit and vegetables to save time and, by adding a natural vegan protein or whey protein to the recipe, it can feel more substantial than just a drink for breakfast and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Try some of our smoothies on our protein recipes blog.

7. Try meal prep

One easy way to succeed at a healthier New Year is to make sure you have your meal prepped ahead of time. You might work during the day so you’re not able to prepare a fresh lunch or you might have busy evenings that don’t give you time to cook every day.

However, if you get in the habit of setting aside a couple of hours every Sunday for meal prep for the week, you’ll find that you can save time and eat what you want to eat, not just what’s to hand.

Your tips

We’d love to hear your tips on how to keep your healthy New Year’s resolutions. Share your own tips with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.