10 New year’s resolution for healthy eating in 2020
According to YouGov this time last year, only one in five Brits planned to make New Year’s resolutions. Apparently, the least likely to do so were the over-50s. Why is this? Could it be the over-50s have accomplished all they set out to?
Well, probably not. More likely they just see it as hopeless. As an earlier poll showed, few of us who make these resolutions actually manage to keep them. In 2017, less than a third claimed to have kept their word by the last 10 days of December. And, perhaps even more depressing, one in five failed in the first week of January!
At least they were honest. But is it really that hopeless? Here are some things we can do to improve our chance of success:
- Start later: Let’s be honest, the middle of winter isn’t the best time of year to start a new diet or spend more time outdoors. Instead, why not spend January and February planning and spring into action in March?
- Get real: Plan ahead, identify obstacles, come up with a strategy, and pick goals you can actually manage. Resolutions take resolve, not just wishful thinking.
- Be patient: It can take as long as three months to form a new habit, so don’t lose hope too soon. And while you’re at it, keep those resolutions to yourself! Telling others tricks the mind into thinking the job is done.
So what are some good resolutions to choose? Based on past surveys, some of the most popular New Year’s resolution ideas for healthy eating in 2020 will likely be:
- Weight loss and dieting (eating in the workplace may need special attention to keep this New Year resolution)
- Cooking more meals from scratch
- Exercising more often
- Drinking less
- Quitting smoking
- Eating less sugar
- Switching to a plant-based diet (London catering for vegans could help with this at work and special events, where people often lapse with their diets)
- Eating a balanced breakfast (a pillar of healthy office catering)
- Actually taking lunch-breaks (it’s important, you know!)
- Enjoying more meals with others
As mentioned above, it’s at work that we often make compromises. Whether because of time constraints, low mood and stress (i.e. comfort eating), or just bad habits in general, many of us eat poorly at work. Hence the rise in popularity of healthy catering companies—which you may want to look into if you’re in a position to hire. After all, healthy eating isn’t just a personal goal; it’s essential for workplace productivity.
In the meantime, though, enjoy the rest of the season’s festivities!