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Want to Eat Healthier in 2013? Step #1: Find Credible Advice.

By January 7, 2013January 30th, 2013Events, How To

My grandparents knew a time when what they ate for dinner was simply called food. It wasn’t “organic”, “free range”, “natural” or “conventional”. It was just dinner. Life is a bit different these days. We have an abundance of food choices in America, a fact that is both a blessing, and a curse.10147528-a-shopping-cart-with-foods-illustration

For much of human history, food choices were easy – you ate what was available. “Good nutrition” and deciding which foods truly provide it, is a relatively new concept.

But these days, we’re pummeled with ads about which nutrients we need (but aren’t getting), and which foods contain them. We’re offered a cornacopia of ingredients, prepared, and semi-prepared foods that are designed (yes, “designed”) to appeal to our eyes and wallets.

And to top it all off, we’re cited “studies” and “surveys” about what is best for us to eat, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. For too many people, deciding what constitutes a healthy dinner has become a daunting task. That’s not surprising. But corporations, trade associations, and marketers are usually just a couple steps ahead of us, and compete at every turn, for our attention and dollars. Every time I set foot in a grocery store, I remind myself that feeling confused, frustrated and overwhelmed by the question of “what to eat?” How do I make the best choices for my wallet and my health? How do I separate the wheat from the chaff?

If you’ve ever wanted to throw up your arms trying to figure out what’s good for you to eat then rest assured you are not alone, but don’t give up! Take a moment to accept that life has changed and the responsibility to learn is yours, then figure out who to ask for help.

It’s the beginning of a new year, and for many of us that means that we’re making resolutions. It is speculated that, each year, the majority of New Year’s resolutions involve weight loss and/or physical fitness. Sound familiar? Goals are successfully attained when they are broken into small, actionable steps.

Step#1: Get sound advice. Take responsibility for the health and diet information that you’re using to make decisions. By arming yourself with truth, you’ll be better prepared for success.

Try new things. If you’ve never spoken to a nutrition or wellness professional before, consider attending an affordable workshop in your neighborhood to begin getting concrete nutrition facts from a professional. If other fitness plans have failed you, try something new and different! Open your mind, and your body to new information and new forms of exercise. It’s entirely possible that the key to success lies in finding resources and routines that work for you, personally. Get out there and find them!

Broga® Yoga and Jennifer Jasmin are offering a workshop on January 12th at our Somerville Studios focused on how to get the most out of healthy shopping options. Click here to register today!

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://brogayoga.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/JenJasmin.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Jennifer Jasmin, R.D. is a nutritionist and freelance writer living in Watertown, Massachusetts. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Emerson College, and a Graduate Certificate in Dietetics from Simmons College. In her work, Jen strives to help people find balance between real nutrition facts, and realistic health and fitness goals. Her background also includes over 15 years working in the food service industry, which adds to her unique perspective on eating well. She shares her insights, personal cooking lessons, and recipe ideas on her blog at: www.skeletonsinmykitchen.com. In addition to writing, Jen shares her passion about healthy eating in casual, approachable nutrition seminars and workshops in both corporate and community settings. To Jen, the journey to wellness is incredibly personal, and should be approached in a way that is individual, actionable and unpretentious. [/author_info] [/author]

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