Research shows that up to 50% of American adults make New Year’s resolutions, but over 90% drop them within just a few months. As we make our way through February, chances are your own resolutions aren’t looking so great. Fortunately, if you’ve been striving to live a healthier lifestyle amid the COVID-19 pandemic, you don’t need to bend over backward to reach your goals. Here are four small changes you and your family can make right now to live a healthier life.
Eat a veggie with each meal
You don’t need to be the kind of person who’s happy to eat a salad every day to get more vitamins and nutrients into your body. Simply slipping a vegetable into each of your meals throughout the day can help you eat more greens. Add spinach to your breakfast wraps, tomatoes to the sauce for your grilled chicken, and broccoli to your spaghetti and meatballs. The more vegetables you eat, the more potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C you’ll get. These vitamins and nutrients can help to maintain healthy blood pressure and reduce your risk for chronic illness.
Choose organic personal care products
It’s no secret that organic food can be expensive, especially when it comes to fresh fruit. If organic eating isn’t in your budget, consider going organic where you can instead. According to a report by Grand View Research, the natural and organic personal care industry is expected to be worth $25.1 million by 2025, and for good reason. Your personal care products come into contact with your skin at least every other day, and you and your family absorb the ingredients in those products into your body. Spending a few extra dollars on organic personal care products can cut down on chemicals that could potentially be harmful to your body.
Be kind to your teeth
It’s recommended for people of all ages to visit the dentist every six months. But only 64.9% of adults had a dentist visit in the past year, and the COVID-19 pandemic has kept many of us from feeling safe enough to make an appointment. This doesn’t mean you should try to take dental matters into your own hands by going ham on your teeth with your toothbrush. Brushing roughly doesn’t get rid of more plaque but can actually put you at greater risk of tooth decay because you’re wearing away your enamel, the protective layer of your teeth. Brush your teeth in gentle circles for up to two minutes each time to remove plaque and keep your enamel safe (and your gums un-irritated).
Read nutrition labels
Don’t focus so much on calories while you’re shopping. Instead, when you’re checking the nutrition labels, be sure to look at what the ingredients are in the foods you’re getting. For instance, some canned vegetables might be low in calories but are high in salt content, which can be bad for your heart. Opt for foods that are good sources of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If you can, try to avoid foods that are high in added sugars, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium.
You don’t need to change your entire lifestyle to boost your health. By making small changes and giving the health and wellness trends of 2021 a try, you can give yourself a high-five for meeting your New Year’s resolution to boost your own (and your family’s) health.