This blog post was sponsored by Coca-Cola but the opinions are completely my own based on my experience. #StartSmart2016 #ad
We’re already in the second week of January 2016! The older I get, the faster life seems to pass by. Does that happen to you, too? I’ve been reflecting on life over the last few weeks because I’ll be forty-two this year. I know! My body doesn’t always listen to me when I want it to do something and I’ve come to realize it’s my own fault. 2016 is going to be my year to be healthier. This is something I need to do for me and for my family. I know it’s not hard to get started, but more difficult to keep up with any changes.
Start Smart. Stay Active. Keep Fit.
Where to start? I made a quick trip to my local Albertsons armed with my healthier-options list. I’m looking for ways for my family to eat healthier, get more exercise, and feel good. Making good food choices is the first step. In addition to fruits and vegetables, I picked up a bottle of Simply Orange, a bottle of Fairlife Milk, and a few Odwalla smoothies.
I make my own smoothies, but like that the Odwalla smoothies have a bit more variety than what I can usually make on my own. Plus, the Simply Orange is great by itself or as homemade OJ popsicles.
Healthy Eating Tips that I’m Incorporating in 2016
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. One way I’m doing this is cooking more vegetables into dishes I already make (don’t tell the kids!). Another way is to add more fruit to our breakfast. Having yogurt? Add fruit. Oatmeal? Add fruit. Make a smoothie with Fairlife Milk and fruit or if you are short on time, have an Odwalla Smoothie.
- Plan ahead. If I’m going to be out of the house during a meal time, I make sure to pack something healthy to snack on. A banana, raisins, or whole grain muffin would all be great ideas. For a drink, just stop by Albertsons and grab a single serving container of Fairlife Milk or a Odwalla Smoothie. Another way to plan ahead is by meal planning. I plan out my menu each week and that keeps us on track and away from fast food temptations.
- Portion control. This is something that I’ve learned over the past few years and I’ve gotten better at it. Not great, but better. Hey, I’m nothing if not honest! I take larger containers (i.e. meats, fruits, veggies) and portion them into smaller containers so that I know that just one container is a full serving. For example, I buy large packages of meats and separate them into one pound portions so that when I’m cooking I just have to grab one container from the freezer. When I buy whole fruits or veggies, I prepare them and cut them into single servings and seal them in containers for the times that we need a quick snack. The kids know that one container is a serving or that they can share the serving if they’re feeling generous.
These are just some of the ways that I plan on eating healthier this year. In addition, we’re adding more play time which equates to more exercise. I’m sure we’ll incorporate more throughout the year, but this is a great place to start our journey.
Save your receipt! By purchasing fairlife milk, Simply Orange, or Odwalla products at your local Albertsons or Safeway stores by March 24, 2016, you can enter for a chance to win 1 of 1000 Misfit Shine Fitness + Sleep Monitors. For more info, visit http://lynk.to/V3JA3.
