Like many of you I have spent the last week or so thinking about 2013 and what I want to see happen in 2014. More specifically I’ve been thinking about my own personal nutrition and the changes that became habits vs. the changes that fizzled away. Looking at the changes that stuck, I was able to come up with a couple of common threads that I wanted to share with you.
For the sake of this blog I’m going to use Starting Each Day With A Green Smoothie as my example. Please don’t confuse this with a blog that is pushing green drinks on the nation – I just googled it and there are exactly 457,695,221,001 blogs already doing that! I’m more interested in you seeing my thought process and what allowed it to become a habit.
Of course, if you are interested I’ll include my personal recipe down below. Ugh, did this just become 457,695,221,002?!
It’s quick & easy
I would love to be a morning person. One of those people that bounce out of bed without an alarm to greet the day! I imagine bluebirds laying out their clothes, all traffic lights switching to green as they approach and a heavenly chime when the smile. Unfortunately I am not this person. I love sleep and will always choose it over any attempted morning productivity. This has been proven by failed attempts at morning boot camp, morning meditation, and extravagant morning breakfasts. My morning smoothie is something I can do the night before so I can just wake up and go. Set yourself up for success by making your change as easy as possible.
It’s delicious
Healthful food only works if you actually eat it. So making sure you enjoy something is critical if you are planning on making a change long term. I used to go through phases where I would try to eat oatmeal every morning. I mean, what’s healthier than oatmeal? Well, after a few days I would begin to dread it. In my mind it would somehow transform from this wonderful cornucopia of oats and berries into an awful paste that I couldn’t choke down if I tried. Let’s be clear, you don’t need to be brought to the point of ecstasy every time you have a snack, but if you think it’s nasty goo you won’t stick with it. Even my classmate Benjamin Harrison stopped eating paste after 2nd grade. Make sure you actually enjoy the food that you are eating because you are sure to find an excuse to stop eating it if it’s gross.
It’s nutrient dense
I have as hard a time as you getting fruits and vegetables into my day, so I love that I can pack a ton of them into this one drink. It’s also nice to be able to switch it up based on what is in season and what my body may need based on the time of year. Every time you eat, it’s an opportunity. Make the most of it.
It makes me feel good
We do what feels good. Period. So even on days where it seems easier to climb Mt. Everest than to get to the grocery store or I feel only a crane will be able to tear me away from my Dexter marathon, I think about how good I’m going to feel the next morning. It gives me the motivation to get moving and it’s never as hard as I make it out to be in my head. Feeling good trumps everything…even Netflix.
Change always takes work and effort, especially when it is new and unfamiliar. However, after a few weeks if you still find yourself white knuckling through the day it may not be the best change for you. Find success by making sure it’s easy, delicious, packed full of wonderful nutrients that make you feel good.
Tara’s “Better Than Netflix” Green Smoothie
- 2 cups Salada Green Tea
- 2 stems of kale
- 1 cup of spinach
- 1 apple
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp. superfood powder
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1 splash of lemon juice
When you are blending your smoothie, always start with the leafy greens and green tea. Blend this until the greens are a liquid. This will prevent your smoothie from becoming chunky and your co-worker from having to awkwardly tell you that there is kale in your teeth.
This mix makes 2 servings. I also change this up based on what is on sale, what is in season and what tastes good. For instance right now I have swapped out the banana for avocado and added ginger to kick up my immune system.
Enjoy!
