a bad breakfast

 
The holidays spell out overindulgence for most of us. It's so easy to eat chocolate candy cane bark or shortbread along with your morning coffee. Yes, guilty as charged. But the new year is a great time to signal change and get back on the good foot when it comes to healthier eating. 
 
Being mindful is something I'm trying to incorporate more into my life, whether it's what I purchase at the store to what food I eat. For me, eating locally is important and I'm happy that I'll be starting my third year supporting my local CSA. Yet it's good to have a smack of common sense and if you need a little help, take out Michael Pollan's book (actually more of a pamphlet) Food Rules: An Eater's Manual from your local library. His now-famous mantra can be summed up in seven words: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants," and it's good advice. 
 
If you don't know where to start, here's an inspirational day of a mindful eater, complete with recipes. 
 
image from green kitchen stories
 
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and shouldn't be skipped at all. You could easily whip up a smoothie from whatever frozen fruit you have laying around along with a bit of yogurt and milk. But if you want something that truly sticks to your ribs and helps curb your hunger, a good porridge is the way to go. This one from Green Kitchen Stories is made with quinoa and dried nettles and served with fruit and nuts. 
 
image from cookie+kate
 
Making sure you pack a lunch that stays fresh will help to avert temptation when your co-workers head out for a buger. This chickpea salad from Cookie + Kate makes a delicious brown bag lunch. Not only is it full of protein and color, it has enough bite from the lemon and olives so that your lunch isn't a snore. 
 
image from one tribe gourmet
 
Your standard weeknight dinner shouldn't be a complicated production. Use easy to find ingredients that don't require a whole lot of work. This recipe for spicy stir fried udon noodles with vegetables from One Tribe Gourmet makes dinner a cinch. And if udon noodles aren't easy to find in your neck of the woods, you can easily sub in your favorite pasta. 
 
image from sweet on veg
 
If you're craving dessert, this sweet & salty frozen treat from Sweet on Veg is vegan and creamy. Frozen bananas, dates and a pinch of salt blend to create something healthier than a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Eat this out of the freezer at midnight and still feel virtuous. 
 
If you have any tips on how to be a mindful eater, let us know in the comments below. 

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