It’s not really a news flash, but since it soon will be a new year, it’s time to revisit a list of top 10 foods to take you into 2014. As the article below points out, one of these healthy plant foods you start incorporating and swap for one of the unhealthy ones just might turn out to be a new favorite staple in your diet. Read on for more great tips and Happy New Year!

“‘Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions. Many people make commitments to changing their health. We wonder how to get our health back on track; but where and how to start?

Don’t set yourself up for failure.

In our fast paced society we often go for unrealistic perfection instead of going for progress.

We may make resolutions like: Every day this year I will eat eight servings of vegetables, work out in the gym, and only eat healthy foods.  “I will look just like Beyoncé.”

However, after one or two weeks of these lofty goals, we fail; reality sets in and we are back to old familiar habits.  What to do?

The answer is simple.

• Set smaller realistic goals by creating new easy-to-do healthy habits or baby steps.
• Set shorter time frames for success (one to three months). You can always redo.

For example: In the Beyoncé goal above, instead of 8 servings of vegetables, try adding a green smoothie to the diet. This is doable to begin with and effective.

Here is a small list of 20 ideas that can be included in New Year’s resolutions…

20 Top Successful Health Ideas

1.  Find time to relax. When we are stressed it is challenging to health mentally and physically. Going for a long walk or enjoying a movie night with a friend or partner takes the pressure off.

2.  Decide if you are overweight and if so, then decide to start on a long term healthy weight loss program…Being overweight can cost you your health. (Shaklee 180 just might be the last weight loss program you’ll ever need: http://rlei.shopshaklee180.com/us/en/.)

3.  Be in the fresh air. Walk, run or play in the fresh air and connect with nature. We can do that even in winter.

4.  Look after YOU by putting you first. Busy lives make it challenging to make time to for caring for yourself, but it is important to have inside and outside maintenance now and again.

5.  Find a passion. Figuring out where real passions lie in life, whether it is playing a sport, caring for family, following a career or making the world a better place, will help keep us healthy and active into old age.

6.  Share meal times together. It is nourishing on many levels including your health.  When we eat with others we slow down and enjoy our food more. Also, it is good to spend time connecting with others.

7.  Spend time with loved ones. Being with others is important for a balanced and happy life. It promotes better health and it doesn’t cost anything.

8.  Drink lots of water. Pure water can help maintain concentration and digest food.  Plus we will eat less. (Give Shaklee’s Get Clean Water a try: http://robert-l-ewing.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?main_cat=HomeCare&sub_cat=water.) 

9.  Give your brain a work out. This will help keep the brain stay healthy.  Great to stay active and sharp into old age.

10.  Buy organic food as much as possible. Buying everything organic can be costly but some foods are important to get organic; see the Dirty Dozen list. Our body loves having less toxic chemicals and we are helping out the environment too.

11.  Always eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast may increase coronary heart disease risk, according to a Harvard study.  It is an important meal that will improve concentration and also help maintain weight.

13.  Eliminate junk foods. They are high in fat, high in calories and full of chemicals, which are not good for health.  The heavy packaging isn’t environment friendly.

14.  Learn to meditate. Create space within and reap the benefits of relaxation.

15.  Catch that negative thought before it rules. See where it is coming from so that it can naturally be replaced with something positive.

16.  Try a new food. That new vegetable or fruit or nut may become your favorite.

17.  Try something so new that it is stepping out of your comfort zone. This will make you stronger.

18.  Phone an old friend to catch up. Our friendships need nourishment.

19.  Cook a healthy meal for a special friend. Sharing food is nourishing especially when it is healthy.

20.  Practice deep breathing. Doing this first thing in the day and last thing at night will keep you healthier, more relaxed and focused.

Finale Guidelines:

• Keep it simple by making 2 goals for the first three months.
• Once these are fulfilled then pick 2 more for the next three months.
• By the end of the year that will be 8 new healthy goals created. That is SUCCESS!”

From “20 Easy Health Resolutions for 2014” By Diana Herrington