Small changes can make all the difference when trying to stick to a more portion-balanced and nutritious diet. Researchers from Stanford suggest changing the size and style of your dinner plate to reduce portions and still feel full. And research has shown that periodic messages that tap into the weekly cycle can help us stay focused on our goals as well. Since Monday is the day we refresh our routine, it’s also the perfect opportunity to recommit to positive habits. With a Monday start and weekly reminders, healthy eating behaviors can easily become everyday behaviors.
Plate size and Monday prompts are just two ways to adjust your habits for the better. There are a wide variety of strategies out there that can boost your health without a lot of effort and help you stay on track. Biggest Loser trainer and Meatless Monday advocate Bob Harper recommends planning one “splurge day” in order to focus on healthy choices on other days. And, the Environmental Working Group is helping consumers transition to healthier habits with their Good Food on a Tight Budget Guide, which offers information on affordable alternatives to processed food.
Have a healthy Monday this week by celebrating the launch of the Eat Together Challenge, a Canadian campaign to promote the pleasures of good eating and the benefits of sharing meals as a household. In addition, last Monday marked The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA)’s 11th annual Family Dinner Day to raise awareness of the importance of cooking and eating together as a family. While the dates of these two events might seem coincidental, we believe Mondays are the critical time for starting and sustaining healthy habits.
