By: Jessica Roy MS RD LDN

During this holiday season my family and I baked a bit more than season’s past. As a result, we all had the opportunity to enjoy a few more treats. My son was happily surprised by the variety of cookie and candy options, which also led to some very intuitive questions on his part.

One afternoon he asked for a cookie, which I agreed to, and he was having difficulty deciding between a classic sugar cookie or an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. He decided that he needed both, but asked me how he could tell if that was too much. I asked him if he was hungry (he had eaten a decent lunch two hours earlier), to which he answered a little hungry. He then independently decided that one cookie would be enough, stating that he can always have the other one later on (which he did enjoy later that night).

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By: Jessica Roy MS, RD, LDN

Meals out of the house, whether from take out, sit down meals, or even your local grocery store salad bar are contributing more and more to daily caloric intake. Enjoying a restaurant meal or a quick sandwich out is certainly fine in moderation but can pose a hurdle for weight maintenance and weight loss goals when it becomes a habit. Meals eaten out are often higher in calories than meals at home, as well as more expensive.

 

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By Janyce Gately MS, RD, LDN, CHC

A new year can bring about new beginnings and a desire for change, which isn’t always easy.  If creating a healthy lifestyle is on your radar this year, you don’t have to create lofty goals or make resolutions that don’t stick.  Instead aim to make health and wellness a priority using the following tips: 

 

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By: Jessica Roy MS RD LDN

I am not a big fan of resolutions as they tend to be large, lofty, and less specific goals for the coming year. Like losing 20 pounds, or being healthier, or improving fitness levels – these are all admirable goals, but they provide no guidance on how to get to that trim, healthier, fitter person. I recommend instead, a focus on little habits to make behavior change more manageable. One of the most useful tools that I offer my clients is support with forming and committing to little habits.

Brushing your teeth, for example, is a little habit that we start out with in our baby years. When I ask a client if she brushes her teeth twice a day and does it seem like a lot of work, the answer is yes to the brushing and no to the perception of hard work. This little habit is created with the support of a parent or other adult guardian and then continued independently twice a day every day (most of the time) with ease for most people.

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