For many people, a new year brings new goals, a renewed spirit to accomplish something new and different, or to be more intentional. Forbes recently conducted a survey of 1,000 people and found that three of his top five goals are directly related to diet and exercise. Probably everyone has had such a goal at least once. At one point, I set goals to eat one vegetable a day, do the recommended amount of cardio per week, and stretch every day.
As someone who thinks a lot about food and health, I worry that these dietary and exercise goals sometimes miss the mark. In our quest to achieve instant results and become “healthy,” we tend to view diet and exercise as a chore rather than a source of joy. As someone who teaches others about food, I want to get people excited about food. Food is often at the center of celebrations, brings people together, and is important to many of our histories and places.
It is also true that diet is an important part of our health. In order to live a balanced lifestyle, it is important to practice moderation and keep a close eye on your health. That's why I'm a fan of the Mediterranean diet. This diet reduces the risk of chronic disease while focusing on what should be at the heart of your diet: the importance of incorporating some form of daily exercise, and the importance of moderation rather than elimination. It has been proven that
If you're thinking about setting health goals, I encourage you to think of small ways you can add things to your life that make eating fun and enjoyable. For example, increase your fruit and vegetable intake, try one new fruit a month, take more walks with friends, or increase the number of new recipes you try each month. As the year progresses, it's important to remember that perfection is not and does not exist, and having an overall “healthy” lifestyle is not the goal.
If you'd like to learn more about the Mediterranean diet, I'll be giving a one-hour overview on January 23rd at 6pm. You can register at go.ncsu.edu/mednewyear. He also hosts his six-week series that delves deeper into content and research on the Mediterranean diet. You can find upcoming classes at newhanover.ces.ncsu.edu, but they fill up quickly. If you are interested, please contact me. I will put it on my list for future classes.
Morgan King is a family and consumer science agent at the NC Cooperative Extension Center – New Hanover County Center, located at the Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive. The gardens are free and open daily from 8am to 5pm. Contact morgan_king@ncsu.edu or 910-798-7660.
