By: Caitlyn Devlin, MS, RDN
New Year’s Day is observed by almost all of the world on January 1st. The first day of the year is said to represent a fresh start after reflecting on the events of the past year. A variety of celebrations around the world recognize this day. It may be marked by a parade, sporting event, or, most importantly, a good meal. There are many different foods eaten on New Year’s Day with the hope that they will bring good luck. Foods commonly eaten for their good fortune are black-eyed peas, pork, greens, cabbage, fish, lentils, and grapes. Chicken is discouraged on New Year’s Day because it is believed that since chickens have wings your luck could “fly away”. Another typical tradition of New Year’s Day is setting a New Year’s resolution. Many resolutions center around more healthful eating, increasing exercise, and weight loss. Here are some tips for setting (and keeping) a New Year’s resolution:
- Choose a specific goal. Many individuals will say they want to “be healthier” in the new year. Instead of focusing on vague goals, set one that is concrete and achievable. For example, instead of “be healthier” choose “limit red meat intake to once a week” or “exercise 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes”.
- Stick to one resolution at a time. Setting too many resolutions can cause you to spread yourself too thin among all of them, instead of putting all your focus into one, achievable resolution.
- Take it slow. Many people will go all out and make very quick, drastic changes in an attempt to achieve their goal. Making unsustainable changes too quickly is a recipe for failure. Instead, make small achievable goals to reach your resolution. For example, if your goal is to run 3 miles, start by jogging a short distance three times a week and working up to longer runs.
- Have support. Having support from a friend, partner, or family member can make resolutions much easier to achieve. By having support you have someone to share your successes and struggles with while also helping to hold you accountable.
- Expect challenges along the way. Don’t get discouraged if you “slip up” in your resolution. Change is always difficult, especially when it comes to changing habits. Instead of seeing a “slip up” as a mistake, use it as a learning experience to try and determine why it occurred in the first place.
Source: Rattray, D. (2021, February 10). 20 Lucky Recipes for a Traditional New Year’s Dinner. The Spruce Eats. https://www.thespruceeats.com/traditional-new-years-dinner-4774304.
