This post was written by Hannah Bercot, RDN, CD, community outreach dietitian, Parkview Community Greenhouse and Learning Kitchen.
The holidays have come and gone. Many of us have already packed up the lights and recycled the tree. Now it’s time to start planning for the new year and new decade.
New Year’s resolutions have a mixed reputation. On one hand, they can lead to life-changing, and even life-saving, lifestyle modifications. On the other hand, they can be daunting and eventually make the goal setter feel like they failed. Usually our list of resolutions includes something related to health, well-being and/or fulfillment. These themes make the stakes fairly high, and yet, many of us will only stick to our commitment for the first several weeks of the new year before reverting back to old habits. So, what’s the trick to making change stick? In addition to setting SMART goals, there are other tactics that can help, such as writing down a goal and keeping it posted in a frequently visible location.
When it comes to health and lifestyle, there are a few key areas to really focus on: diet, exercise, getting enough sleep, maintaining positive relationships, and avoiding tobacco and risky behaviors. A healthy diet is a big one, topping the list for a lot of resolution setters. In fact, a healthy diet can help protect us even when the other areas are lacking. For many, food can feel like the most difficult area to change. After all, we are surrounded by delicious, inexpensive, convenient foods that are incredibly tempting! The good news is that there are free resources in your community to help.
Getting comfortable in the kitchen
Learning to cook can help you to achieve and stick with your goals. Getting comfortable in the kitchen and cooking at home more often has been associated with eating more vegetables. And households that consume more home cooked meals generally consume fewer calories. If you aren’t confident with your skills, don’t feel defeated. We can help!
Parkview Health has used resources from the Community Health Improvement Program to build a facility dedicated to taking control of your own health. Centrally located on Beacon Street near the Parkview Hospital Randallia campus, the Parkview Community Greenhouse and Learning Kitchen has helped hundreds of our community members learn about new styles of cooking that are delicious and nutritious for our bodies. All classes at the Learning Kitchen are free and only require registration to hold your place. The Greenhouse has been used to produce wonderfully healthful ingredients to be used in the cooking classes and demonstrations, and to help feed families in need in the Fort Wayne area.
Let us help you to achieve your New Year’s goals! Check out the January calendar here to register for standalone classes or to learn more about our new series that celebrates health and longevity.
