Make 2016 Your Year Of Health - Eating With Erica

So it’s a new year and it’s time for a new you! By that, I mean it’s time to shape up on that health routine and really stick to it this year. The best part about the New Year is the feeling of renewal and rejuvenation. That feeling makes the beginning of the year, the best time to make a lifestyle change. For some, that life style change can be to work out more, for others to use technology less, but for most people, it is to eat healthier. Let’s lay out a plan. Let’s do this healthy thing together, no turning back.

First of all, ditch the white bread/sugar/pasta. Seriously. Leave that stuff in 2015. Ditching white starches and trading them in for whole grain carbs automatically adds more protein and fiber into your life. Oh, and speaking of carbs: stop seeing them as the enemy. As someone who runs and does yoga as much as possible, carbs are my lifesaver. There is nothing I find more satisfying and nourishing than a large bowl of whole grain angel hair pasta with mushrooms or a homemade coconut curry with sprouted brown rice. So, eat more carbs and make sure they are the whole grain kind. Your body will thank you, I promise.

Pictured: whole grain pasta, mushrooms, broccoli, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan.

Next, drink tea before bed. This one is something I find extremely important. I normally opt for either ginger tea or detox tea by the brand Yogi tea. Drinking this before bed allows for optimal digestion throughout the night and will allow you to wake up feeling light and ready for a new day, everyday.

Another great idea for becoming a healthier you this year is to drink more cold-pressed, organic, raw juice. Yes, those words sound a bit intimidating but juice is the best health tonic. The best brand in Atlanta to turn to is Bamboo Juices. This juice is the freshest on the market, made with all organic, raw, and as often as possible, local ingredients. Cold-pressed juice is the best way to give your body the detox it deserves. The fiber is pressed out of the juice in a way that optimizes the nutritional benefits from each ingredient. Your body is then able to get a break from digesting and processing which allows it to store more energy and store nutrients more efficiently. My favorite aspect of Bamboo is its promise to only deliver its customers fresh juice – the juice is always fresh pressed the day that it is ordered and delivered to your doorstep by the next morning, being only a few hours old. Raw, organic, cold-pressed juice is without a doubt my number one way of staying healthy and keeping my body pure throughout the year.

Lastly, cut down on meat. I know, I know, it seems tough. Truly though, it’s so easy, especially in this day and age. There are so many meat alternatives and amazing vegetable options in grocery stores and restaurants. By cutting out meat for a month, a week, or even a day, you automatically up your vegetable and grain intake, which will make you feel amazing (trust me). Think avocado, tomato, and Swiss sandwiches or vegetarian sushi rice bowls.

Pictured: Swiss cheese, tomato, and avocado sandwich with a touch of mayonnaise

Here is a step-by-step for veggie sushi bowls:

Get a bowl. Make organic brown rice (personally, I’ve been really into sprouted brown rice lately). Put the rice as the base of the dish. Next, chop up cucumbers and carrots. Pair those veggies with thinly sliced avocado, chopped pieces of nori sheets (seaweed, YUM). Drizzle with toasted sesame oil and top all of it with black sesame seeds. Make a quick spicy mayonnaise by mixing your favorite vegan mayonnaise (I love the Just Mayo brand) with Trader Joe’s siracha sauce and top with is a little or as much as your heart desires. That’s it. You have yourself a delicious, quick, and nourishing meal.

So there you have it, folks. Simple changes make the largest differences. On top of all of this, try to squeeze in a quick workout daily, or at least three times a week. Making a few adjustments to your lifestyle will lead to you feeling like your best self in no time! Here’s to 2016!

By: Chelsea Barbee

Chelsea Barbee is a third year student at Georgia State University. As a child, she loved to help her mom in the kitchen, whether it was sautéing mushrooms or baking chocolate chip cookies. After being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 2009, Chelsea began her true exploration into the world of food. Throughout the years, her food exploration slowly became her passion and is presently what makes her world spin. Now a resident of the ever-evolving foodie city of Atlanta, Georgia, Chelsea has the opportunity to make each day taste incredible. She enjoys learning and eating her way through the Atlanta food scene, one bite, crunch, and sip at a time. She spends her free time practicing yoga, eating way too much sushi, and wandering around Trader Joe’s for hours on end. Follow Chelsea On Social Media @chelsabarbee13.