We are just a few short weeks away from another new year.  Inevitably, that means new promises, new opportunities and, of course, new year’s resolutions.  I can think of at least five promises that always seem to make it on everyone’s Top Ten Resolutions list:  Lose weight, get fit, drink less, eat healthier, and stop smoking.  But they also make another annual list: the Most Commonly Broken Resolutions. 

Why is it we always start the new year with the best intentions for becoming healthier, yet most of us fail within a few weeks? 

Perhaps it ‘s because we set goals for ourselves that are far too ambitious.  How many of us have woken up on New Year’s Day with a wine-induced hangover and vowed to never drink again?  Instead, maybe we should set a more realistic goal, e.g. “I will not enjoy another glass of wine until Happy Hour after work next Friday.”

We set ourselves up for failure because we focus on goals that are too difficult to meet, or dwell on the foods that we cannot eat.  The secret to success with New Year’s Resolutions is to set goals we can meet.  This year, I challenge you to do something radically different with your New Years Resolutions...  Instead of giving things up, let’s add something in. 

Most doctors and health professionals agree that the best way to increase health and reduce disease is to maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and don’t smoke.  Coincidentally, these are some of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions.  Exercising and not smoking are very straightforward goals, but maintaining a healthy weight and eating right are more complex.  They’re also easier said than done.

One of the reasons eating healthier food is complex is because it’s subjective.  Many of my clients approach me looking to lose weight or with a desire to simply become healthier.  Many of them swear they already follow a healthy diet.  While they often do possess healthy habits, there is always one food item lacking from their diets… Vegetables.  In short, it is impossible to be healthy if your diet doesn’t include enough vegetables.  Unfortunately, this proves rather challenging for most people. 

It sounds lame: “Eat more vegetables.”  Yet even though we all know this is important, very few of us actually eat the amount of vegetables required to maintain our health.  If we did, we might be able to fit into those jeans, have glowing skin and not rely on coffee and sweets to make it through those last few hours of work.  It really is that simple.  Oh vegetables, why do they forsake you? 

Before you tune out the idea of vegetables as the key to your health, give them another chance.  Instead of worrying about what you are not going to eat this New Year, let’s make an effort to add more vegetables into your everyday diet.  That shouldn’t be too hard, right?  You can still indulge in that cookie or doughnut, but make a promise to yourself that before you eat those treats, you will eat your daily serving of vegetables.  Here’s how you are going to do it:

• Always make extra vegetables to add into dishes and have as snacks.
• Add a serving of vegetables to eggs, soups, stews, and sandwiches.
• Swap out a side salad for hashrowns.
• Add a handful of dark leafy greens to smoothies.
• Instead of just lettuce and tomato, add cucumbers, shredded carrots or micro greens to sandwiches.
• Place cut up vegetables (carrots, celery, broccoli, fennel etc.) in the front of your fridge for a quick snack.
• Grill up a large batch of vegetables for side dishes and to add into other dishes (salads, rice and grain dishes, pasta).
• Roast a big batch of root vegetables for sides and to add into other dishes (salads, rice and grain dishes, pasta).
• Order salad or vegetables sides as appetizers.
• Commit to trying one new vegetable each month.
• Take advantage of all of Santa Monica’s great farmers markets each week.

Why wait until New Year’s Day to begin?  Start today!  Start by heading to a farmers market this weekend.   While you are there, pick out a new vegetable to try and begin to add in more vegetables at every meal.  Make a promise to yourself to eat at least five servings  (1/2 cup each) of vegetables each day before you indulge in snacks and sweet treats.  You will be well on your way to a healthy new you in the new year.