Healthy New Year Recipe Round Up

Welcome to 2018! If you are like nearly 40 percent of Americans, you set some New Year's resolutions to improve your life in some way this year. Did you know that only 8 percent actually achieve those outcomes outlined in their resolutions? 8 PERCENT!

Striving to live a healthier life is a common resolution set by many. If this includes you, check out these healthy recipes to start the year off on the right foot. Don't forget to add your favorite workouts, enough sleep, and some scheduled downtime to round out your healthy lifestyle.

If losing weight is on your bucket list this year, you've come to the right place. Weight loss is tough. It has been a personal struggle since I was 8 years old. 2017 turned out to not be an ordinary year and with the help of a personal trainer, I lost 30 pounds. It was a complete overhaul of my workouts and the way I eat. I'm not done yet and realize that maintaining the weight loss will be a lifelong adventure.

For tips on losing the weight, check out these posts.
Planning for weight loss
The secret to weight loss
What happens when you get injured
10 Healthy Recipes

Let's talk nutrition - since it is about 80 percent of the weight loss equation. You cannot outrun your fork and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to meal plans since everyone's body responds differently. Try out different things and find something that works for you and your lifestyle to achieve your goals. A tip for everyone: add protein to each meal.

Losing weight is about finding a balance you can live with. Not everything has to be 'clean eating' - although everyone seems to have their own definition of what clean eating is. Balance side dishes with the main course. Portion size is also very important in keeping calories in check. The 80:20 method is a good rule of thumb; eat healthy 80 percent of the time and leave some room for the occasional indulgence. This can help prevent binges on your favorite unhealthy treat.

The trick that worked for me is managing the margin between calories consumed and calories burned. Recording food in the MyFitnessPal app on my phone, which links to and interacts with the FitBit app, makes it very easy to do this daily without much extra effort or thought. You just have to keep yourself accountable. If you eat it, record it. No exceptions. Keeping promises like this to yourself boosts confidence in the fact that you can do this! You can lose the weight. It takes (a lot of) time, patience, and determination. Don't give up if you have an off day - it will happen! - or if you fall off the wagon and certainly don't beat yourself up about it. Just get back on track immediately. You got this.

Here are some recipes from my friends' and my recipe boxes to get you started:

Breakfast:
Ham, Potato and Cheddar Quiche
Low Carb Egg Muffins
Southwest Breakfast Casserole
Spinach Tomato Veggie Omelet

Salads:
Berry Chicken Salad
Chinese Chicken Cabbage Salad with Peanut Sauce
Southwest Fajita Steak Salad
Very Veggie Pizza Pasta Salad

Soup:
Slimming Vegetable Soup

Sides:
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans
Pineapple Baked Beans 
Rainbow Fruit Salad
Spicy Roasted Zucchini

Main Courses:
Caramel Apple Pork Chops
Cocoa Chile Pork Tenderloin with Triple Cherry Sauce
Grilled BBQ Chicken
Lemon Pepper Tilapia
Low Carb Salmon Patties
Rosemary Baked Halibut
Sesame Ginger Steak Cabbage Boats
Sweet & Sour Chicken 

Crock Pot:
Chicken Taco Bowls
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Wings
Crock Pot Beef Brisket
Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas
Slow Cooker Honey Dijon Ham
Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken 

This post was sponsored by The Glass Barn, which is funded by the Indiana Soybean Checkoff.