When I think of New Year's resolutions I have visions of people being so gung-ho about their goals for about two weeks to a month and then they get off track, give up and eventually say "well maybe next year." I'm here to say that I think we need a new view and set of expectations for these finicky New Year's resolutions.
Whenever someone starts a New Year's weight loss resolution or any weight loss program in general, they think it's best to go cold turkey and immediately eliminate all of those unhealthy habits they have built up over the years. While this strategy may logically make the most sense, when it's applied to reality it ultimately ends up failing. When we choose to go cold turkey, we can only stick to the plan for a few days at most. And then when we fail we blame our selves and become even more convinced our goals our impossible to reach. STOP THE MADNESS. It's not you! It's the strategy you're using!
If you really want to accomplish these goals you have to cut yourself some slack! Organize steps that you will take to reach the ultimate goal. Instead of saying "I want to loose 30 lbs. by May" say "I want to loose 30 lbs. by May by having small goals of loosing 5 lbs. every month. By breaking the ultimate goal down into little goals you are automatically taking a lot of stress out of obtaining your ultimate goal.
Now, how exactly should you accomplish the small goals without getting off track? Make SMALL changes. For example, if you don't eat breakfast everyday, start. If you don't exercise that often or if all, don't hit the gym everyday! It will turn into another hated chore. Start off going twice a week and increase the number of visits as you go along! If you don't have the healthiest diet, try changing one meal at a time. Make dinner your healthy meal and soon enough you'll find it much easier to start changing your other meals. The point is to pick small changes and slowly but surely ease your self into a new life style.
Oh! And that's another thing! Don't see your New Year's resolution as a diet! The word "diet" alone is accompanied with negative connotations and negatively is not welcomed here. See your resolution as a lifestyle change! You want to be a better you and you're doing this for yourself! No one starts working on a goal hoping to have all of their work undone when they reach it. By viewing your goal as a lifestyle change you are automatically less likely to fall back into those old habits. And hey, if you mess up, so what?! You're human! It's ok! You're going to mess up! Everyone does. Just know that all hope is not lost. You're goal isn't ruined. Just take a minute to remind yourself of why you started and why your goal is important to you.
So as a way to help you keep those healthy New Year's resolutions, I thought a healthy dinner would be a great way to get you started and going! Salmon in Papillote is a very easy, clean, basic recipe that has all the nutritional density you need to make a happy, healthier you. Without further ado, enjoy this new recipe! And have an amazing 2013!
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup sliced zucchini
1 cup sliced onion
Freshly cracked pepper
4 Salmon fillets (5-6 oz. ea.)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1-2 cloves of garlic
Gather, clean and prepare your vegetables for chopping. You can choose any vegetables you want with the exception of green, leafy ones because they won't add flavor properly. I decided to add some asparagus.
Next, heat a non stick pan to medium heat and then coat the pan with the olive oil.
Chop your vegetables to medium thickness.
Cut four 12 inch pieces of parchment paper or foil.
Juice one lemon.
Next, sauté carrots for about 2 minutes before adding the other vegetables because they take the longest to cook.
Season carrots with salt and pepper. Minced garlic and add to the pan.
Add other vegetables, season and toss them to coat with the oil. Sauté until soft but not cooked entirely.
While you wait, play with your puppy :)
Next, prepare your salmon steaks and preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Your vegetables should look like this when they are ready.
Scoop a portion of the vegetables onto all of the foil sheets.
On top of the vegetables place one salmon steak and season it with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle lemon juice on the salmon steaks.
Then, wrap the foil around the food but not tightly. You want there to be a way for steam to escape.
Place foil wraps on cookie sheet.
Place cookie sheet into the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes.
Ta-da!
Serve with rice and enjoy your healthy, New Year's dinner!
Love,
Laura
