Happy 2023!
A note of gratitude for you… Happy 2023!! I can’t believe it’s been TWO years since the Cooking Club was born and over 7 years since I started Natalie Cooks! I just wanted to send a note of gratitude to you for following along with me on this delicious journey. Whether you joined my email […]
A note of gratitude for you…
Happy 2023!! I can’t believe it’s been TWO years since the Cooking Club was born and over 7 years since I started Natalie Cooks! I just wanted to send a note of gratitude to you for following along with me on this delicious journey.
Whether you joined my email list 6 years ago or 6 days ago, I’m so happy that you’re here. When I shifted gears from a Personal Chef to Natalie Cooks, my goal was to share my passion with a larger audience and I’m so happy that you’re in it 🙂 I hope that I have helped to nourish your minds and your stomachs!
So thank you again for following along and please don’t ever hesitate to reach out with questions or just to say hi 🙂
And in the spirit of 2023, let’s say no to cleanses, restrictive diets, and detoxes and instead, resolve to cook (and prep!) more and keep filling up on comforting foods that nourish us inside and out all year long. You in!?
FREE COOKING CLUB RECIPES JUST FOR YOU
Cheesy Cauliflower and Sausage Bake
Turkey Cranberry Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash
Radicchio Arugula Apple Salad with Parmesan
Curried Turkey Stuffed Delicata Squash
Creamy Lentil Tomato Soup with Parmesan Toast
Rigatoni with Broccoli and Kale Sauce
Now let’s talk a little bit about New Year’s resolutions and diets…
Why Restrictive Diets Don’t Work
The new year brings a new perspective on what’s ahead. Now is the time we really start reflecting on the past year and making goals for the new one. Goals and resolutions often fall into the diet and exercise category, especially after a long Holiday season where we tend to fall out of our usual diet and exercise habits and fill up on comfort foods, sweets, and cozy time with loved ones.
We start to get inundated with messaging on social media about restrictive diets, cleanses, and detoxes that promise weight loss. We see our friends, coworkers, and family members going on diets, making us feel like we should be doing it too. But the truth is that those types of diets are not sustainable at all and cause more harm than good.
Read more about why diets don’t work here in my 2021 New Year’s blog post!
My main issues with restrictive diets are that they label foods as good or bad AND they cause stress and an unhealthy relationship with food. Food should be celebrated, not a cause of stress and anxiety. It’s one of the greatest pleasures in life (in my opinion!). So, let’s create sustainable habits around food that aren’t based on restriction. These kinds of resolutions will have a much longer-lasting effect than trying a new restrictive diet.
How to make healthy food resolutions
Instead of making resolutions that remove foods from your diet, try to make ones that add foods to your diet. So, instead of resolving to “eat fewer carbs” or “no desserts during the week”, switch your mindset to “eat more (insert food here)”. For example, “eat more vegetables with every meal” OR “incorporate more nuts and seeds into my diet” OR “start eating more fish every week” OR “Meal prep every Sunday for the week”.
I like making fun ones, like “try a new type of cheese every week” or “buy something every week at the grocery store that I’ve never cooked with before”.
These resolutions focus on enriching rather than restricting your diet and that’s what I’m all about!
Check out my Meal Prep 101 blog post.
And don’t forget to peruse my nutrition blog page for other informative blog posts!