I have never been a big fan of making resolutions. After all, they usually last about a week and then you are done! I do however like to look back on the last year, evaluate, and set goals for the next season. Setting a goal requires having a way to measure it. So not a vague, “I want to lose weight this year.” But rather, list the exact amount you wish to lose in January. Something measurable and with a time limit. A due date if you will. Then you have to create a plan of how you are going to accomplish that goal. So maybe a plan to follow the Keto diet, or simply remove sugar and bread, or a list of new recipes to try. Have a plan or plan to fail, as they say.
My goal for the first week in January is to look at expiration dates. Firstly, in the spice cabinet. Most cooking herbs are recommended to last for 1 year to get optimum taste and health benefits. They won’t necessarily harm anyone after that year, but they won’t taste good either. What sparked this resolution? Well, an evaluation of the past year. At Thanksgiving I made deviled eggs and sprinkled them with paprika. It looked a little brown and smelled kinda like dirt, so I looked at the date. Yikes 2017! Really?! Ok, it is time to check all the spices dates in my cabinet. Throw out the old, make a list, and shop for fresh spices.
Need a second idea for a resolution goal? Check the dates on all your oils. Did you know that oils go rancid or bad in about 6 months? They have an extremely short shelf life. If you buy organic or better quality oils, they will go bad even faster than cheap oils. Why? Because they don’t have the added chemical preservatives. Rancid oil creates free radicals which lead to cancer. We don’t want that! One of the worst things you can do for your body is take in bad or rancid oils. Not only check your cooking oil dates, but your moisturizers, lotions, and cosmetics. Bad oils are absorbed through the skin too.
The nice thing about these resolution goals is that they can be accomplished in one afternoon! Start the New Year with a sense of accomplishment, knowing you have done something good for your health.
Happy New Year!
Lisa Purdy ND, MH