As a good start to the year, the first of January we
wake up worn, tired and very satisfied with all the meetings, lunches, dinners
and other holiday commitments. At this time many of us are filled with
initiative and new purposes, making it easy to form new habits.
Take this opportunity to change some habits that will
help you to improve your quality of life, the planet and why not? ... Save some
money.
TO EAT BETTER
Shop at the farmers' market
Besides being cheaper than the supermarket, products
are fresher and it supports the economy of many farmers. Try to buy seasonal
fruit and vegetables. They are cheaper
and more likely to be fresh and of good quality.
If you like packaged foods
Avoid buying instant foods, most of them are high in
sodium, fat, calories and generally are not very nutritious, and if you compare
the cost of homemade food, usually you end up paying 2 or 3 times more.
For those of you who prefer to buy packaged products,
try to choose those that are not processed and offer the product as close as
possible to fresh presentation.
If you like to drink soda
Try this: add 1/3 cup of water to each soda glass. Once you get used to the taste, increase the
amount of water until you can reduce to a minimum the proportion of soda.
If you are not so adept to soda but you like fruit
drinks, try to reduce the sugar you add to the jar or use a low-calorie
sweetener like Stevia.
If you want the super low calorie option, you can try
this: Add to a jar of water pieces of orange, lemon, melon or cucumber. If you like
you can add Stevia to make it sweeter and just as healthy.
Cook at least once a week.
If your activities do not allow you to cook every day
of the week, try cooking a big portion one day so you can reheat the leftovers
for future meals. I suggest you choose easy to store and reheatable recipes
like lasagna. This way you will give a much healthier (and cheaper) option for
your family.
Planning a vegetarian day a week
No need to make complicated dishes, only remove the
meat (beef, chicken, pork, egg and fish) and change it to fresh cheese, tofu or
soy. When you substitute the meat, you help your family eat more vegetables. More
simply, the more colors you add, the more vitamins, minerals and fiber you will
be giving to your family.
You will feel lighter and more energized to continue
your day.
Go for a walk once a week
If you are not the type of person who goes to the gym
or has time to spend an hour of exercise often, make plans to go out with your
family for a walk one day a week. You
will have a little exercise and the opportunity to talk and share outside the routine.
TO HELP THE PLANET
If you like the idea of helping the planet, I suggest some simple changes:
Recycle
Reuse glass containers for food storage and plastic to
save other objects.
Water Reuse
Turn off the water faucet while brushing your teeth and
in the sink when you soap the dishes.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
You'll feel as if you were eating at your grandparents’
house but using cloth napkins are cheaper and they don’t need to be washed
daily.
Clean your house naturally and economically
If you want to be even greener, change your cleaning
products for natural options. With just
vinegar, baking soda, lemon and water you can create endless products
friendlier to the planet (and your wallet). I am doing it and it has been much
cheaper and more efficient. Here is the link:
Try
to sit down to lunch or dinner only when you feel really hungry, stay aware of
the feeling of fullness and stop eating when you feel the first warning.
