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    What’s Cookin’ in the New Year?

    Among the many New Year’s resolutions that make it to most people’s lists, losing weight is right up there with quitting smoking and drinking less. Although approximately 50% of people make resolutions, only around 10% manage to sustain them for longer than a few months. It is possible to make a change, though. Studies have shown that those who decide to embrace a healthier lifestyle, for instance, can have a high success rate. Only two crucial ingredients are required: will, and self-efficiency. If you would love to be healthier in 2019, why not forego fad diets and make a few simply changes to the way you cook? The less radical your resolution is, the more likely you can stick to it. Follow these suggestions for inspiration and guidance.

    Choosing Low-Fat Cooking Methods

    Frying a potato instead of baking it can cause calorie totals to spike to more than double. The good news is that you don’t have to opt for boring boiled or roast potatoes if you’re after a guilt-free snack. Air fryers cook crisp delicacies with a tiny bit of oil. Opt for avocado, extra light olive oil, or grapeseed, which have high smoke points and which therefore are suitable for the high temperatures of an air fryer.
    healthy fried food

    Nixing Sugar

    High-sugar diets are linked to obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, so why not lower your sugar consumption this year? You don’t have to give up on a little sweetness in your best espresso coffee or desserts. Simply replace sugar with stevia or Xylitol, and reduce the refined carbohydrates you consume, tucking into a piece of fruit when you feel a craving for something sweet. If you are a budding chef, sweeten your desserts with a blend of Medjool dates and orange juice. This syrup is actually very sweet, but it packs a nutritional punch, since dates contain several important minerals – including potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

     Going Raw

    Raw plant-based foods are rich in phytochemicals – a ‘light energy’ that is linked to a lower cancer rate. Phytochemicals are found in abundance in foods like carrots, onion and garlic, dark green vegetables, and red and yellow vegetables. Instead of making a simple lettuce salad, why not add a few of these raw ingredients and give your body a big de-ageing boost? Phytochemicals scavenge free radicals – the unstable atoms that can lead to premature skin ageing and disease.

    hand eating from bowl of healthy food

    Considering a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet

    If you have always wanted to embrace a vegetarian or vegan diet, but wonder if you have the commitment and time it takes to do so, why not embrace a meatless day during the week? Recent studies have shown that plant-based diets are more efficient than omnivore diets when it comes to losing weight. One recent study found that vegetarian diets are approximately twice as effective when it comes to weight loss, than low-calorie diets.

    Cooking with healthy fats, air frying rather than conventional frying, and trying out raw food recipes are just a few ways to be healthier in 2019, without being too restrictive on yourself. We know that most people make and break resolutions, so it is important to be realistic when deciding yours. If a vegan diet sounds daunting, why not consume more vegetarian dishes? You can start slowly, experimenting with new vegan and vegetarian recipes and enjoying at least one meat-free day a week.

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