Cooking Up Well-Being in the New Year
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN
Can the challenging times of the last year help us approach the benefits of food and medicine differently in the new year? The answer is a resounding YES! The New Year is time for a fresh start when it comes to health, so let’s look at some ways we can move towards that goal from wherever you are starting from.
The Recipe
The Price Chopper/Market 32 website can help you find resources, food items and information – the ‘ingredients” you need to create a more healthful lifestyle. Cuddled up on the couch on a cold January day? One of those couch sessions is a great time to take a digital tour and activate wellness efforts with personalized food shopping and medication management.
On the website, the toolbar at the top offers shortcuts to functions that can help you shop quickly and confidently. The first link is to the Shops Online dashboard, where you can create shopping lists, order online and make choices using the Know Your Colors nutrition guides. These color-coded guides include lifestyle choices such as Gluten Free, Organic, and more. You can learn all about the Know Your Colors program on the Pharmacy Health and Wellness page. The criteria that define the nutrition guides are all based on federal and recognized non-profit Health Association standards that support general nutrition lifestyle goals. The color-coded guides are visible on shelf tags that make in-store shopping quick and easy.
More resources at Price Chopper/Market 32 include the cutting-edge programs, easy-to-use pharmacy app, blood pressure kiosk and more you can find at the Price Chopper/Market 32 Pharmacy. Our Pharmacy teams work hard to ensure patients have the medication they need to stay well. The pharmacy app has many features, including a list for re-ordering, and reminder alerts to ensure meds are not missed. You can also sign up for text notifications to stay connected with pharmacy alerts. Food and medicine together can be a dynamic duo when managing chronic health issues – making it easier to do both is part of our commitment to you.
Make a Great Plate
The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released last week. No surprise, fruits and vegetables lead the recommendations. Including good sources for protein, nutritious dairy, and reducing sugars are all part of the guidance. The Know Your Colors nutrition guides, also based on those guidelines, can help you activate those recommendations as you make food choices throughout the store. Start off with easy changes, such as doubling up favorite veggie servings, enjoying milk with meals, and choosing Low Sodium versions of the foods you usually buy. Each of the Know Your Colors guides can help you explore products that may support your personal health goals throughout the store.
Get Active
There are so many benefits from all kinds of movement. Check out this Think Lifestyle, Not Resolution blog from professional trainer Antoni Favata for some ideas that will help you frame how to think about reaching for your wellness targets in the New Year.
Happy, Healthy New Year from all of us at Price Chopper/Market 32!
Think Lifestyle, Not Resolution
Antoni Favata
NASM-CPT, CES, CF-L1, FMS, SGX-OS
You hear about it year after year. Creating resolutions to begin a new year with a new you on Jan. 1. For a lot of people these resolutions focus around health and fitness.
However, most people with good intentions who set these realistic goals tend to lose steam and momentum come February.
So, what can we do to ensure our success with these not so lofty goals?
Here are a few tips to keep you on track and on target so you hit your mark and maintain your achievements for years to come.
- Think Lifestyle, Not Resolution
We often think of these resolutions in terms of extremes. Instead, we should think of these choices as a way of life and incorporate small changes every day. Change your mindset from “all or nothing” to “one day at a time.”
- Smaller, Manageable Habits
Small habits are not only more attainable, but easier to manage and maintain. Start with easier changes and build on them as they become regular practice. Smaller habits help you stay more motivated, too! Development and success of these smaller habits creates a growing sense of achievement as you get closer to a larger goal.
- Variety
It’s true, most of us struggle with having a short attention span. And for a lot of people that short attention span affects our fitness routine, which can derail progress. Even the word routine can be daunting for some. Fortunately, these days the Fitness Industry is not short on options. Keep exercise and movement fun by mixing up your routine. Subscribe to something new and exciting. Variety will help keep you on track by providing a new challenge to help keep your mind and body stimulated.
Instead of New Year’s resolutions set intentions instead, focusing on manageable lifestyle changes that will set you on a path to success.