Reflections of 2016 with Prosperity into 2017: What’s worth ridding and what’s worth hanging onto?

2016 really did put a dent into a number of areas of our world. Nutrition and health information and trends aside, I think we can say a number of news headlines really made us turn our heads, wonder what was going on in the world, or ask ‘Where is the Love’?

I often spend the last few days of the year and first couple days into January to reflect, vision and recognize what my accomplishments were, but also where the lessons came (and I mean hard lessons) to teach me not to go a certain route, or tread waters a little more carefully. But that’s sometimes the name of the game too.

With a new year upon us, and the opportunity for new beginnings, let us recognize one major, important thing here: we each, as individuals (provided no underlying conditions or situations exist), are the people in charge of taking care of our health and our insides, and the choices we make often reflect the person we are.  So as much as we are encouraged to “go with the flow”, or from the cover of a new journal from a dear friend – “and if the music is good, you dance” – it is still important to recognize the aspect(s) of your life that are important to you to carry out each day in hopes of forming positive healthy habits.

Let’s recap shall we?

• 2016 was named the International Year of the Pulses. From a professional perspective, we have definitely seen a bigger shift towards plant-based diets over the years, and I encourage people to eat more plant-based foods for variety and nourishment. Whatever diet and lifestyle you decide to follow, eating more pulses should be in week somehow. With Canada being the largest exporter and producer of beans and pulses, we support the growth and sustainability of our own soil. I always tell clients beans and legumes are ‘superfoods’, loaded with nutrients, complex carbohydrates, protein and fibre just to name a few. The versatility they offer from a colour perspective, texture and baking opportunities are endless.
  • My vote: This one stays!
• Supplements and diets. I looked up more diets and supplements this year than my two hands can count. I don’t see this area changing anytime soon, I’ll flat out admit it – but what needs to change here, especially if you may be someone who has tried more than 5 diets (much like I used to be), is your desire to just find the one that works for you for the rest of your life. I admit, I supplement my overall health through the addition of meditation, journaling, essential oils, going to the gym….but food is food here, and once we recognize the value and quality of certain nutrients that fuel us the best, you won’t need to spend the $300 monthly for that front-door delivery of powdered stuff, that may leave unfulfilled promises.
  • My vote: Invest money into sitting down with a professional to help guide and support you towards finding Your Diet. We all have one and it’s different than the person sitting across from you at work or in the subway.
• Sweet potato toast. Was yours a flop too? I mean apparently food is trendy, and if you’d like to make something special for some guests, I am all about making food look even better. But to substitute sweet potato for your every day toast, well, I say timing is a big thing, so it’s up to you if you have the time to deal with this one, however a sweet potato chopped up with a bit of oil roasted in the oven for 20 minutes is just as amazing!
  • My vote: I’d much rather put my time into something that will actually hold in a person’s hand when they pick it up to eat it!
• Energies are contagious – including good food energies.  Surround yourself with people you admire, people who bring out the best in you, and those who make you feel better once you’ve left their circle!  Food energies act much the same.  If you still aren’t sure of how to break down those carbs that some say don’t fear and others say steer clear of, learn about them. Sit down with someone to help you better understand when your body needs different amounts of energy, timing of eating with workouts to meet your goals, or how to make the simplest meals in 5 minutes. It can be done, and doesn’t have to include a lap through the drive-through.
  • My vote: You owe it to yourself to have the support from someone who will guide you and direct you towards the steps you need to take to make life-long positive habits, by understanding food and food balance.
• Nutella-everything! Umm….. one recommendation here – it’s all about balance. No that doesn’t include a balance of nutella in each meal, but c’mon, if you grew up with it, you should be able to enjoy it every now and then. Just savour it and enjoy a small amount!
  • My vote: I think the above words explain enough
• Apparently we needed to “soup” everything to stay on top of our weight and health. And yes, I just used the word “soup” as a verb. I mean, I am all about a good hearty bowl of cream of broccoli, minestrone or homemade butternut squash soup. But drinking your meals for the rest of your life may not be the best route for your digestive system (which requires chewing as the initial step of digestion to get your digestive juices rolling well)!
  • My vote: stick to what you know, and feed your soul your favourite soup for comfort, warmth, the common cold or cough, or a simple meal.
• Food and mental health. Yes, when you eat properly it affects every aspect of your health, including your mental health. Fueling with the proper energies, and ensuring your diet includes certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients will make your mind healthier and stronger.
  • My vote:  Have you checked in with your diet lately to see if you may be missing a few key nutrients? Take the time to see if you’re eating right for your age, daily commitments, and fitness routine.

Whether I keep this list going to talk about probiotics and fermented foods, spiralizing vegetables, or spouted grains, you can see that it all comes down to you and making the choices you know you can learn to make for the better of your health. The journey is yours to embrace. It takes work (I won’t sugar-coat that for you), but the steps are simple, so once all of those baby steps are done, you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come. You just have to be ready to take the first step!

Make 2017 different. What are your desires?  Not necessarily your resolutions, but rather what do you want? Name two to start, and then resonate with the one that leaves the most energy in your mind when you think about how you would live, feel, possibly look like, if you could work on one thing. Then you know what you need to do. Make the call. Ask for support or guidance! You’ll get there! I know you will…..I did, and am always still working on the next thing!

Please comment below to let me know what stuck out from 2016 the most for you, what you tried and what was a “Pinterest Fail”!