Healthy Eating Competition – $100 Gift Card Prize

Beginning this month we will be asking you to pick “One Thing”, just one, you can change today, to improve your overall health and wellness. It doesn’t have to be something huge or all-encompassing or overwhelming. Just one thing that you do, for yourself, that can help increase your overall wellbeing.

This month we are focusing on healthy eating.

Welcome to January 2015! After enjoying the excess of the holidays many of us make the resolution to focus, or re-focus, on healthy eating. Healthy eating is not to be confused with “dieting” because healthy eating means making changes we can live with and enjoy for the rest of our lives.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed with all the information out there about healthy eating but eating healthy simply starts with learning new ways to eat, such as adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to our plates, and cutting back on foods that have a lot of fat, salt, and sugar.

Send us your “One Thing” about healthy eating and be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Bryson Farms, an organic home delivery service, for the Ottawa area who specializes in organic, heirloom vegetables of the highest quality (www.brysonfarms.com). Alternatively, you can share your “One Thing” by commenting below!

Here are a few of our favorite simple ways to start eating healthier this year….

  1. Silhouette_yogaDrink more water
  2. Roast instead of fry
  3. Pick non-processed snacks
  4. Bring lunch to work at least once a week
  5. Eat all the vegetables on your plate before you eat anything else
  6. Make smart ingredient swaps, ie. try using avocado instead of mayo
  7. Eat as many colors as you can every day
  8. Have a piece of fruit with breakfast instead of a glass of juice.
  9. Try to eat meals that are at least half vegetables.
  10. Try portioning your meals and snacks out the night before



Comments

  • David Glickman Says:

    I am making an effort to walk more, including a walk the length of the campus at the end of my lunch hour, as well as bundling up to stay warm for a walk after dinner. So far I’ve kept it up since December 28.

  • Julia Fortey Says:

    To satisfy a craving for chips, I bake kale chips using different spice combinations. I still feel like I’m having a treat, but it’s a healthier one!

  • Lisa Barker Says:

    Starting January 1st, I will reduce/eliminate eating donuts and cupcakes and replace with more kale and quinoa. I will miss you Suzy Q, but my overall health will thank me later. :)

  • Vanessa Herman Says:

    I am trying to stop eating anything after dinner. I love having dessert or a snack in the evening (even if it’s healthy), but it will help eliminate unnecessary sugars, and calories from my diet. Instead I will enjoy a glass of water :)

  • Katrina Malherbe Says:

    More organic raw foods, and stress management! As a student it’s one of the more challenging aspects of wellness so I’m incorporating some yoga into my week, and meditation into my day :)

  • Louise Boudreault Says:

    I gave up all caffeine. I didn’t have much before, but now it’s none for me. I’ve also included a probiotic in my daily supplement routine.

  • Mara Lowrey Says:

    I’ve replaced cream in my coffee with milk, and cut out 1 sugar. I’ve also joined a gym again – but set my starting goal small – attend yoga class every Monday night!

  • Corie Seed Says:

    I place an apple on the counter to remind me to choose this for dessert rather than cookies, chocolate or candies.

  • Zoe Says:

    I started working at a yoga studio, giving me the opportunity to pick up my yoga practice again. I am working on eating more fruits and vegetables over the winter. During the cold months, I crave food that isn’t good for me, so I am consciously actively changing that.

  • Diane McCutcheon Says:

    I am heading to the gym three times a week and making it a priority.

  • Gail Lagowski Says:

    My one thing this year is to cut sugar intake by ½.
    Wish me luck – I will need it!

  • Scott Says:

    I walk to and from school each day, as well as take my dog for 3+ walks a day. I prepare all my food for the week in advance so I always have good homemade meals so I know what exactly I am eating this helps reduce the amount of added sugars and preservatives found in lots of store bought foods. I also don’t buy anything that has been processed. By adding some exercise and bring more conscious with my food intake I can ensure to keep healthy and physically active this year and for many more afterwards

  • Alicia Says:

    This year I am going to try and reduce the amount of fats in my diet and increase my carb intake as I am currently not taking in enough healthy carbs to sustain my activity level. I am also going to increase the number of dinners that I make myself at home as opposed to my cousin to ensure that I am eating a healthier diet.

  • Samantha Tilley Says:

    This year, I am determined to reach the same fitness goals as I did last year but with a much healthier approach. In 2014, I participated in a fitness competition and felt sluggish and unhealthy from a low-carb diet and excessive cardio. This year, I plan on doing the same competition but put my health first by eating a lot of nutrient-dense foods to fuel my workouts and gain muscle. As a student in the Fitness and Health Promotion program, I’ll be applying my knowledge to succeed and bring home a trophy in the healthiest way possible.

  • Katherine Richardson Says:

    After eating your (healthy) dinner, take a break from eating and give your body a rest until morning (cut out the snacking!). If you feel hungry, have a glass of water.

  • Katherine Says:

    When I’m hungry at night I start my snacking with a fruit or vegetable. If I’m hungry enough to eat an apple then I’m hungry and since I just had an apple I’m usually satisfied that I don’t want anything else.

  • Mark Says:

    I’m going to try my first cleansing using a special herbal tea – I hope it’s gentle ;-)

  • Val Sayah Says:

    Being that it is mostly cold at this time of the year… I have committed to walking indoors some more… My son, who is also a personal trainer, encourages me to also remember to “hit the stairs, Mom”. So, I am trying hard to do just that, “hit the stairs”, as well :-)
    ps. this is a great initiative and thanks for organizing folks!

  • Carey Says:

    I have been adding veggies to my smoothies every morning in an effort to get more greens into my daily diet. So far so good.

  • Brenda Ghattas Says:

    Cookies used to be my favourite snack. I have totally cut them out of my diet. I already eat very little processed food but I am determined to cut even more out of my diet this year. However, there is one thing I cannot cut from my diet – popcorn. But I now use coconut oil instead of butter and nutritional yeast instead of salt. A very tasty alternative.
    Good luck everyone!

  • Colleen Mayo-Pankhurst Says:

    I’m doing two things to keep properly hydrated. I’m drinking more water, which has the added benefit of reducing my coffee and diet soft drink consumption. I’m also more frequently putting moisturizing lotion on my body, not just my face (as I have done for all my adult life).
    Thanks for offering this challenge. I enjoyed reading what others are doing.

  • Sharleen Conrad-Beatty Says:

    I have started putting a sliced orange/apple in my gym bag and have it after I have finished yoga.The frugal part of me doesn’t want to “waste” the cut fruit and the “feed me now” part of me is happy with a prepared snack.

Share your thoughts