This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for more details.

Bottomless Subscription

If whoever you’re shopping for doesn’t have a go-to bag of coffee yet, try out Bottomless. It’s awesome (trust me, I use it too!).

When you sign up Bottomless will send you a small scale. You keep your coffee on it and when it is nearly gone they will automatically ship you another bag! Basically, it’s never ending coffee! Plus, you can go to their website and pick different bags for your queue!

Kettle

Whether you need some hot water for a very professional pour-over coffee or simply for a cup of tea, either way a cute black kettle is useful!

A Coffee Grinder

Grinding your beans freshly before making a cup just amplifies the flavor. Don’t know? Get yourself a coffee bean grinder, too!

Reusable Straws

Reusable straws aren’t just great for the turtles. Reusable straws are perfect for the home barista that loves iced coffee. Bonus- they’re cheap and make a great stocking stuffer!

Metal straws are the OG reusable straw while rubber straws are more safe for your teeth. There’s also glass straws.

Pour Over Maker

A pour over maker may look intimidating but it’s actually just as easy as a cup of coffee! It pairs perfectly with a slow morning.

Mugs

We all know that everyone’s cupboards are overflowing with mugs, but like, look how cute these are!

Milk Frother

Milk frothers became big during the pandemic. These are the perfect $15 gift for everyone. You can use a milk with a higher-fat content to make a rich and foamy topping for your coffee.

Coffee Flavoring Syrup

This is the perfect pack of coffee flavoring syrups for the fall and winter. Add just a small amount of this syrup to amp up a plain coffee or make an at-home indulgent latte!

Coffee Spoons

Coffee spoons are something even the biggest coffee connoisseur may not have! The long handle is perfect for reaching the bottom of a tall glass to get the perfect mix.

Homemade Banana Cinnamon Rolls

The only thing better than a coffee related gift is a homemade batch of Banana Cinnamon Rolls with Peanut Butter Frosting that will pair well with a steaming hot mug of joe! Plus, if you’re lucky maybe they’ll share with you;).

Espresso Cups

Not everyone will find a set of espresso cups necessary, but if you know they own an espresso machine they definitely could always use more. Plus, these are double insulated!

French Press

A french press makes a cup of coffee easy. Simply add your grounds, hot water, then press. The coffee lover in your life will love it!

Coffee Recipe Book

This coffee recipe book gives 50 recipes. Who even knew there were that many possibilities?! It would be fun to work through it and try everything.

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Keeping well in the winter compared to the summer looks quite a bit different. In the winter months it’s important to stay warm and ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D. In the summer, these wellness needs change.

1. Make Sunscreen Application a Part of Your Morning Routine

The sun is out and the rays are harsh. In the summer you need to make sure your skin is always covered! Even if you are just walking from your car to the store and back there is time for the sun to damage your skin.

The best way to make sure your covered is by making sunscreen a part of your morning routine. This could be through your everyday morning makeup or by adding in a face-safe sunscreen.

Many moisturizers and other makeup products have SPF built in to them. (Go check your go-to products!) If your’s does it’s likely for a very low SPF coverage, but it’s better than nothing!

Another option to ensure you’re covered is to add one more step to your morning routine. CeraVe is a trusted moisturizer brand, but this one is only $11 with tint and 30 SPF. Apply this before any makeup, or just when you wake up, to help out your skin throughout your day!

If the sun is strong it is best to remember to reapply throughout the day. Another option is to use sunscreen on your full body!

2. Get Your Vitamin D

You’ve probably felt your mood improve as summer approaches. There’s many reasons for this but one argument is for the increase in vitamin D.

Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. AKA it’s good for your bones!

A fun fact is that before we all stayed indoors most of the time vitamin D used to be a hormone! It was very easy to get and maintain sufficient levels.

It was even found that you only need about 5-30 minutes 2 times a week (depending on UV level, smog, clouds, and other factors) to top off your supply!¹

Anyways, when the days get warmer you tend to go outside more. Along with wearing your sun protectant, soak up the sunshine! The sun is providing you with vitamin D.

3. Stay Hydrated

During the summer you lose more water than in the winter. This means you need to make a greater effort in replacing it. If you’re sweating you need to replace even more!

Discover what your favorite way to drink water is. Do you prefer it room temperature or ice cold?, through a straw or from a cup?, sparkling or flat?

Keeping a trusty water bottle on you makes this easy. After carrying it around for a bit, it will become habit. Soon you’ll be mindlessly taking sips throughout the day without even realizing it!

If drinking your water is difficult you can always try eating it! It counts just the same. Certain fruits and veggies are crazy high in water-perfect!

When your water intake isn’t cutting it try including some melon (watermelon, cantelope, honeydew), oranges, kiwi, cucumber, and lettuce in your day. These are all more water than actual fruit and veggie.

4. Use Sunglasses

The sun can cause more damage than just to your skin! If you don’t protect your eyes from the sun it is possible to get photokeratitis. It’s basically sunburn on your corneas- yikes!²

To avoid this never look at the sun. Beyond this, you can protect yourself by using quality sunglasses.

Not only should you use sunglasses at the beach and on sunny days but also when it’s a cloudy day. Unexpectedly, it’s still possible to damage your eyes during these times!

5. Be Kind To Yourself

When warmer days come about you will be spending more time in less clothing. It’s difficult to wear heavy jeans and thick sweatpants when it’s scorching out.

You’ll end up spending your days wearing shorts and a bathing suit when you go to the beach. Being more exposed can be uncomfortable. It’s normal. Give yourself love and positivity. Wear what makes you comfortable and surround yourself with supportive friends!

If this season makes you want to ‘shred for summer’, lose a couple pounds, or need support to fully promote body positivity, let’s chat. I can help you reach your goals whether its gaining or losing weight, maintaining a healthy mindset, or any other issues.

6. Keep Your Food Safe

You eat outside at the beach or barbeques. This is so fun and exciting, but you still have to ensure your food is safe! It’s easy to leave your food outside for too long then returning to it later. That’s not safe!

The FDA says that foods are in the Danger Zone if in temperatures between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours.³ This means to put your food in your cooler when you’re not currently eating it. If you’re worried about if something has gone bad while on a picnic it’s best to err on the side of caution and throw it out!

Now that I’m talking about a picnic are you starting to crave picnic foods? Make my Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing. It’s a cold pasta salad, making it perfect for a warm summer day!

7. Plan Activities

Summer is the perfect time to be active. There is so much to do so try to make plans with friends or family at least once a week. This helps keep you social and active, win-win!

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If you found any of these ways to stay well this summer helpful be sure to leave a comment about which one! Also, be sure to share this article with a friend so they can stay well this summer, too!

References

1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfession5. Office of Dietary Supplements – Vitamin D. Ods.od.nih.gov. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/. Published 2022. Accessed April 10, 2022.
2. Photokeratitis: Treatment, Healing Time, Causes, Symptoms & Prevention. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15763-photokeratitis. Published 2022. Accessed April 10, 2022.
3. Handling Food Safely While Eating Outdoors. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/handling-food-safely-while-eating-outdoors. Published 2022. Accessed April 10, 2022.

The post 7 Ways to Stay Well This Summer appeared first on The Michigan Dietitian.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for more details.

What is Dry January?

Dry January is a movement focused on abstaining from alcohol during the month of January. This is also sometimes known as sober January, damp January, or simply 30 days without alcohol.

Part of the reason many choose to participate in dry January goes hand in hand with the new year’s resolutions. This is a time many people set goals for better habits, healthier diets, and usually weight loss.

Dry January Benefits

Weight Loss: Alcohol consumption tends to be a lot of calories. Liquor has 7 calories per gram. Think about it as one shot being about 100 calories. In addition to the calories directly from the alcohol, the late nights also tend to lead to overindulgent foods and the next morning comes with quick, greasy foods.

By avoiding these drinks and foods you are not consuming the additional calories. In theory, this would eventually lead to weight loss.

Love Your Liver: The effects alcohol has on your liver varies person to person based on your genes, consumption, and amount. There are 3 types of liver disease that alcohol affects¹.

1. Alcoholic Hepatitis- This is hepatitis of the liver due to alcohol. Hepatitis means there is inflammation in the liver. Ultimately, this leads to cell damage and cell death, meaning the liver is unable to do its job.
2. Fatty Liver- This is one of the earliest signs of alcohol related liver disease. Basically, this is when the liver is storing more fat than normal. This disease can be reduced and potentially reversed by avoiding alcohol.
3. Cirrhosis- The easiest explanation of cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Alcohol injures the liver then tries to repair itself. Because of this there is scar tissue left and where there is scar tissue the liver is unable to function as it should.

Proper Hydration: Alcohol is dehydrating. By reducing alcohol consumption it is hopeful that your would instead be drinking more water.

Potential Better Relationships: This is dependent person-to-person. Alcohol can be an issue in some relationships. By abstaining for a month this time can be spent repairing these concerns.

Reduced Risk of Disease: Alcohol is known to play a hand in many diseases. Abstaining from alcohol may help reduce the risk of some of these issues. Note that by not drinking alcohol you are not guaranteed to not develop any conditions.

Improved Sleep: Alcohol wreaks havoc on sleep! Even if you think you are getting a great night’s rest (because you drank so much you pass out), this isn’t actually good sleep!

Increased Energy: Going hand-in-hand with improved sleep, this will also lead to increased energy. Have you ever randomly woken up from a great nights sleep and seem to be able to tackle the world? Well, without the hamper of alcohol in your system you can get more of those great nights of sleep and ultimately, increased energy!

See a New, Sober Perspective: You may be set in the routine of grabbing a drink after work or going out to the bar with your friends on the weekend. You may not even want to be doing this; you’re just used to is.

By taking this month to look at your alcohol consumption and see what habits you have unintentionally ingrained in yourself. Get a new perspective on what your goals are, what your priorities are, and what you actually value in your life.

Tips for Your Sober Month

Set Boundaries: Make distinctions between what you will and will not do (and how flexible you’re willing to be). If you are going to not have a drop of liquor in the month of January let your close friends and family know. While hanging out with them it is more likely they will not try to get you to drink after they understand what you are doing and why.

Try Alcohol Free Liquors: Zero proof liquors are becoming more and more popular. These are liquors (whiskey, gin, rum, etc) that look and taste very similar to actual liquor, without any of the alcohol. If you enjoy the experience of making a drink use these to create yourself a mocktail with all of the ingredients but none of the alcohol!

Dry January Mocktails: Mocktails can be drinks that have alcohol-free liquor or really they can be anything! If calling a drink a mocktails makes it feel more special, go for it!

• Try this DIY Starbucks Pink Drink! It is a simple mixture but you can use a cocktail shaker to make it feel extra fun! If you’ve never tried a Pink Drink from Starbucks it is basically a mixture of coconut milk, hibiscus juice, and freeze dried strawberries- Yum!
• Rosemary Pear Mocktail: This recipe will have you thinking you are having an actual cocktail!
• I love a Lemon Drop! Use this recipe as a great stand in option!

Take Charge of Your Plans: A lot of people’s go-to hang out ideas involve drinking. Come up with some activities you’d like to do that don’t! It’s easier to bring an idea to the table rather than expecting them to come up with an activity to accommodate your sober month.

Some fun activities that don’t typically involve alcohol are:

• Ax throwing (there isn’t even any served here!)
• Rock climbing
• Ceramic class
• Hike

Dry January Alternatives

Damp January: This is a middle ground between your normal booze consumption and dry January. There aren’t any clear cut guidelines for damp January, so make it your own! For you damp January may look like only drinking on special occasions, having one drink a day, just drinking on weekends, or however you prefer.

Strictly Special Occasion: Sometimes sharing a drink with others is a special bonding moment. If there happens to be a special occasion in January when this will occur, maybe you want to make an exception for it.

Drink More Water: If you have a water goal for the month, there may not be room for alcohol! Use these 11 Hacks to Drink More Water to find your favorite way to increase your water consumption. Tell yourself you need to reach your goal before even considering an alcoholic beverage.

Personal Moderation: Cutting back looks different for everyone. If three drinks a night is normal for you, personal moderation may mean only having two a night. That is still an intentional action!

Alcoholism Assistance

Dry January isn’t something for everyone. If you are facing difficult challenges with alcohol be sure to contact a professional. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, hotline 24/7 at: 1-800-662-4357(HELP).

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Citations:

1. Omar Mousa, M.B.B.S. (2021) Effects of alcohol on health and liver, Mayo Clinic Health System. Mayo Clinic Health System. Available at: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/effects-of-alcohol-on-your-health-and-liver (Accessed: March 22, 2023).

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Good Habits

Habits are actions that are taken without consciously realizing you’re doing them. These don’t have to be good nor bad, although there are some actions you may relate to the word.

Think of brushing your teeth. It is likely something you unconsciously end up doing twice a day. This may be considered a good habit to have.

Smoking it a bad habit. It is known to be detrimental to one’s health, but it could be a deep-rooted habit that is difficult to end.

Ultimately, you are going to have habits. You may as well try to make them good habits!

1. Eat a Good Breakfast

Getting in the habit of eating breakfast is going to benefit you throughout your entire day! Instead of waking up and running to the office, make breakfast a priority.

Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day! It can help wake you up, is an opportunity to get in nutrition, and gives your body and brain what it needs to power through until lunch!

If you aren’t hungry in the morning start by having something. Even having a banana with peanut butter is better than nothing!

2. Drink More Water

The amount of water you should be drinking varies based on the weather, your activity level, and how much your body needs! Water is necessary to sustain you and keep your body functioning properly.

The statement ‘drink more water’ is very vague. Maybe you don’t need to drink more water. Or, maybe you need to double your intake. Ask your doctor or registered dietitian if you need further direction about how much you should actually be consuming!

If you are going to start your 15 good habits with increasing your water intake check out my article, 11 Hacks to Drink More Water.

3. Prioritize What You Need

Don’t just go through your days doing the same things. Some days you may need something different, and you should cater to yourself!

Maybe you have plans to hang out with friends but you had a horrible day and know that socializing isn’t going to be a positive change in your day (this is different for everyone!)

4. Make Time for Movement

Movement is a game changer. A simple walk can change your energy for the day, give you motivation to stay up and get things done, and it’s good for you!

This looks different or everyone. Some wake up earlier, some carve out time throughout the day, and some get in their movement at night! Find what works best for you and stick with it.

Being busy is inevitable. Making time for movement can seem like too much to ask at the start but once it becomes a habit you won’t know what to do when you can’t!

5. Learn More About Nutrition (Not Just Clickbait Headlines!)

By learning about nutrition you can discern between actual nutrition instead of just accepting any new fads or clickbait titles as truth.

Proper nutrition means you will be able to listen to your body, feed it what it needs, and make informed decisions for what is best for yourself!

Peruse some of my nutrition myth articles to start learning a bit more about controversial nutrition topics!

6. Keep a Journal

A journal can have so many purposes!

Use it to write down thoughts once a month (or whatever works for you!). Get out everything that’s been happening, what’s been on your mind, or what you are looking forward to

ANother way to use the journal is to note down your habits! This can be a place where you track what you have been doing everyday and how it has affected your day and mood. Then, you can look back and see, ‘Hey! By having breakfast in the morning and getting a little walk in the afternoon in I’ll likely have a great day!’.

7. Take Steps Towards Your Goals

The habit of not making progress on your goals is an easy hole to fall into. The first step in forming goal reaching habits is by having a goal!

1. Set a goal
2. Break down the steps to reach the goal into smaller, actionable steps
3. Plan when you will take these steps
4. Do it!
5. Reach your goal
6. Recap what worked, what didn’t, and what your next goal is!

8. Limit Mindless Scrolling

I’ll admit it, I do this too. Mindless scrolling can lead to a wasted hour (plus). Sometimes it is nice to shut off your mind and laugh at some videos, but not all the time! By making it a habit to limit the amount of time you scroll the internet will reduce how much you end up mindlessly scrolling.

9. Be Your Own Cheerleader

Forming a habit is difficult! It isn’t your significant others, friends, or family’s responsibility to cheer you on along the way. You need to be the person you can rely on for confidence and positive affirmations.

Use positive self-talk to amp yourself up and keep yourself going. This means saying things such as “I am capable and able to ______”. Telling yourself you can’t do something does nothing but hurt yourself! Your own words have so much power.

Repeat after me: I am capable. I can do this. I am enough.

10. Understand Your Body

You may habitually eat the same things on rotation. That may not be bad, but what if you could be feeling better?

Not regular? Listen to your body. If you are utilizing the above good habit of learning more about actual nutrition you can take the proper steps to avoid this!

Maybe your body needs more fruits and veggies? Protein? Healthy fats? Your body responds in certain ways when you are missing something. Understand your body and make positive changes instead of coping with any habitual issues.

11. Eat Before Having Caffiene

It’s easy to wake up and run to the coffee maker, I get it! You get that immediate burst of energy to get your day started. This isn’t the best habit to be stuck in.

It is best to have food in your system first for many reasons. One reason to eat prior to coffee consumption is to help slow down the caffeine absorption and digestion. Without food in your system the caffeine can go right into your system, hyping you up and making for a quick crash.

Another reason to eat before your morning cup of joe is to help defend against an upset tummy, heartburn, and acid reflux. Coffee is acidic, therefore it can disrupt your stomach and cause you to be uncomfortable and potentially some pain.

12. Keep A Yearly Check-Up

Visit your physician at least once a year for a general check-up. You could be in the habit of not making an appointment, then never making one.

A check-up is good to keep in the habit of as you can catch an potential issues early. Your physician may be able to catch a potential issue in a urine or blood sample, heart rate, or blood pressure without you even realizing there was something off!

13. Maintain Boundaries

Maintaining your boundaries can be a challenge if you’re a ‘yes’ person. If you are on a journey to forming new, good habits you may need to set different boundaries. Keep in mind that this is new to you but is also new to those around you.

Set boundaries that allow you the space to grow in the way you are working towards yet not so harsh you build walls around yourself.

14. Prioritize Sleep

Getting and maintaining proper sleep is vital to your good habits! This may even be the foundation to forming any healthy habits. It is difficult to have energy and motivation to do anything without good rest.

Use this article to set the scene and get some tips on some Healthy Sleep Hygiene Tips.

15. Stay Accountable

A habit doesn’t form overnight. They take effort to form and maintain! There are different methods to go about keeping accountable. Some people with keep track in a journal or phone, some talk about it with their partner or friend, etc. Whatever you can find to make yourself accountable works the best.

If sharing helps and you don’t know who to tell, feel free to post what you’re doing on your Instagram story and tag me in it! I’d love to sheer you on!

15 Good Habits Takeaways

Basically, there are good and bad habits (and everything in between!). Some good habits you should work towards forming include: learning more about true nutrition information, prioritizing yourself, and making time for movement.

Ultimately, do what you can based on where you are. Just don’t fall into bad habits!

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In a world obsessed with unrealistic beauty standards and diet culture, it’s crucial to cultivate self confidence and embrace food and body positivity. The key to unlocking your potential lies in recognizing that anything is possible if you believe in yourself, including developing a healthy relationship with food and your bodies.

We will explore the profound impact of self-belief in the context of your relationship with food and body positivity. We will discuss strategies to foster self-belief, challenge societal norms, and cultivate a nourishing mindset towards our bodies and the food we consume.

Craving More?

If you are in need of some body positivity, journal! Use these 15 Revealing Body Positive Journal Prompts to guide you in reframing your body outlook.

Follow along for more body positive and food freedom content over on Instagram!

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What is Body Positivity?

Being body positive isn’t just about being happy in your own boy. Body positivity is being accepting and appreciative of yours and every other body.

What is Body Image?

You’ve heard of good body image and bad body image, now try to take a step back and just consider the definition as it is. Body image is how you think about your own body. This is subjective, meaning it is highly variable and is different from person to person.

Why to use Body Positive Journal Prompts

There are so many reasons why you are searching for some good body positive journal prompts. You may be feeling a bit out of touch with yourself and need some leading questions in order to find an answer you’re looking for. You may be using these prompts because your having the best body positive day of your life! Use these to ground yourself and discover some answers while feeling great!

As a reminder before you begin the prompts, there is a difference between body confidence and body positive, although they do run quite close together!

Body Positive Journal Prompts

Grab your favorite pen and notebook… or even your laptop if you prefer a digital diary and attempt to get yourself into a space where you are vulnerable and open. Go through the next 15 prompts to help you on a journey of self-discovery.

If you get into a groove of journaling and get a bit off track, don’t worry! Keep the flow and see where it takes you and what you come up with.

Use these prompts how you need to in the moment.

1. What do I define as beautiful?
2. Pick three adjectives to describe myself?
3. How would my best friend describe me? (they likely didn’t use anything that relates to your body)
4. What is my favorite aspect about personality?
5. When I look in the mirror…..
6. What are the favorite parts of my body?
7. Think about your childhood. Did you grow up in an environment with strict food rules, overactive parents, and a ‘clean plate club’? Take these into consideration and don’t be too harsh on yourself.
8. What do I feel I need to change about myself?
9. Why do I feel this way?
10. Some days I feel very confident. That’s because…
11. Next time I feel uncomfortable in my clothing I will…
12. I love my body because…
13. Make a list of 5 things you are proud of your body for doing.
14. Do you feel you need to change your body before you can be comfortable in your own skin? Where are these changes coming from?
15. Imagine what others think about their bodies. Does this differ from yours? How can you change this view?

Body Positive Journal Prompts Takeaways

• Body positivity is the acceptance and appreciation on one’s own body and every other body.
• Body image is extremely subjective, and changeable.
• Asking yourself questions and answering body positive journal prompts can help discover your true feelings on your body and works towards mending any gaps.

Need something else? Try using these 14 Journal Prompts for a Better Mental Health!

Let’s Stay Connected!

Leave a comment down below what your favorite prompt is!

Also, be sure to follow along on Instagram!

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This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for more details.

Road Trip Snacks (Non Refrigerated)

Meat Sticks: There are ample meat stick options available on the market now-a-days (beyond Slim Jims). You can even find many of the ‘better for you’ meat sticks at most gas stations now!

Apple Sauce / Apple Sauce Pouch: Have you seen these applesauce pouches? They’re a simple and delicious way to have fruit on-the-go. Now, they come in a multitude of different fruit varieties, too!

Popcorn: Boredom snacking tends to happen on long road trips. Popcorn is a great solution to this. You can pre-make your own popcorn ahead of time or purchase popcorn from the grocery store.

Fresh Fruit: Fruit is always overlooked as a road trip snack. You can grab something easy like a banana, grapes, or apples, or you can prepare more prep-intensive fruits like melon! Simple clean and cube the fruit. Drop it in a sealable container or ziplock baggie and you’re set to have a healthy snack on your road trip!

Crackers: Crackers are the easiest non refrigerated snacks. They’re relatively clean and easy to munch on.

Dried Fruit: Dried fruit isn’t everyone’s favorite item to snack on. This may be the perfect time to give it a taste. One way of drying fruit includes adding a ton of sugar to it. Try to find a variety of dried fruit that has ‘no sugar added’.

Healthy Pumpkin Banana Muffins: This is a great homemade make ahead option. Make a batch of healthy muffins and you’re good to go.

Peanut Butter or Cheese Crackers: Do you remember those individual packs of peanut butter crackers or cheese and crackers? These are a nostalgic childhood classic that are actually still great. They may not be made from the best of ingredients but they’re easy. Sometimes easy is just what you need.

Fruit Snacks: A childhood favorite! These are small snacks that can fulfill your need for something sweet and flavorful, without committing to something big.

Water Flavoring: Sitting in a car all day can get boring. Add some excitement through your drink. Use a water flavoring powder or liquid to pump of the flavor in your water.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Balls: These are a homemade and high-protein snack. They use simple (and typically on-hand) ingredients.

Protein or Granola Bars: Protein bars are bars that typically have at least 10g of protein while a granola bar has less (but also less calories). Both are quick and easy. You can get them ahead of time or find both at nearly any gas station.

Cups of Instant Oatmeal, Mac and Cheese, Etc.: Fun fact most gas stations have microwaves available to use. This means you can warm up your favorite cup of noodles, mac-and-cheese, or oatmeal! These can be a snack or a part of a warm meal!

Something Sweet: You may try to not pack anything sweet so you don’t have it- bad idea. You’ll end up stopping for something and having something sweet anyways. To avoid all the hassle, just pack something sweet that you love.

Nut Butters: You can’t tell me that a spoonful of peanut butter just hits sometimes. A jar of nut butter is easy to pack and versatile to use. Pack it!

Pudding and Fruit Cups: Pudding cups are so under appreciated! They’re an awesome snack and guess what- you can use the lid as a spoon! Along the same line as pudding cups are fruit cups. These have the potential to be a bit messier, but a healthy snack to bring on your road trip that doesn’t require refrigeration!

Trail Mix: Trail mix looks different from product to product. One may be more sweet, one may be more salty, and one may be a bit strange. No matter which kind of trail mix you love it tends to be calorically dense. So, you’ll get a satisfying snack but try not to munch on a wholesale size bag of trail mix!

Road Trip Packing Suggestions

Along with your nacks you may need a couple other items to create a seamless road trip.

I would suggest to bring a bag to designate as a trash bag. This can be a reused grocery bag or even a plain old trash bag.

Another item you’ll be thankful to have is a roll of paper towel. Whenever you are searching for a leftover fast food napkin this will come in handy! Plus, you’ll end up finding endless other ways to utilize this roll.

The last item you won’t want to forget are utensils. Either bring single-use or reusable forks and spoons. These will come in handy for all of your snacking needs!

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Have A Suggestion?

Do you have any other road trip snacks (non refrigerated), of course, that I missed? Be sure to leave a comment down below to share what you bring on road trips!

You can even share your ideas with me on Instagram!

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This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for more details.

Picture this: you arrive home from a long week of work on a Friday evening to a few inches of snow and a forecast of it to continue throughout the night.

This is the perfect setting for a cozy night in.

In order to make it the best it can possibly be, you’ll need a few foods. Every good night requires good food, right?

The perfect dinner for a cozy night in is a big pot of homemade soup. So, upon arrival home you’ll want to immediately change into your comfiest pj’s, take off your makeup, and put your hair up. This next step may be the most important thing you do all night: put down your phone and forget about the to-do list.

Next, tell Alexa to play your favorite music. Volume up. Now, it’s time to start on dinner: Chickpea and Sausage Soup. Jam out while you take your time to prep your delicious soup. Maybe while also enjoying a glass of wine? Personal preference here. Alternatively, a sparkling mocktail would be a great dinner prep fun drink if wine isn’t your thing.

Once your soup is ready, ladle yourself a big bowl and prepare a warm piece of buttered bread, (definitely a magical duo) grab your coziest blanket, and plop yourself on the couch.

A cozy night in means time for a good movie. This is the perfect setting to watch that documentary you’ve been meaning to get to, a sappy romance, or whatever half-decent movie that takes least amount of time to hunt.

After a bowl or two of hearty soup your sweet tooth may start to throb. It’s time for dessert!

If you’ve got the motivation I would recommend a batch of Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies! Admittingly, there is an hour of passive time while the peanut butter freezes, these are one of my ultimate favorite treats for a cozy night in. If you’re more in a grab-and-go mood, whip up some Reese’s Puppy Chow. Forgive me, you may become addicted!

To pair with your sweet treat of choice you also need a piping hot mug of hot chocolate! Whether you like it with water or milk, with mini marshmallows or whipped cream, this is a cozy night in essential!

Now that your stomach is full, drift to sleep watching your favorite show and enjoying the peace and relaxation that comes with a cozy night in!

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What Does Your Cozy Night In Look Like?

Everyone’s preferences differ, but I am confident food plays a role! Let me know in the comments down below what your night in entails!

The post All The Food You Need For A Cozy Night In appeared first on The Michigan Dietitian.

A New Month of Opportunity

A new year isn’t the only time you can reset and implement new goals and changes. Although, you can make changes any day, doing it at the change of the month feels as though you are officially turning a page.

Sometimes all it takes is the turn of the calendar month to feel the renewed energy towards setting and accomplishing goals. Use this energy to reassess your goals or to set new goals!

Revisit Previous Goals

Prior to creating your ‘new month, new goals’, you need to look back! Compare where you stand with previous goals you may have had.

Did you achieve them?

Did you decide to change them?

Is there a reason for a new goals?

How do you feel about them?

By asking yourself some questions you can better develop your new goals.

Consider Your New Goals

If you feel like you are setting the same goals over and over again, maybe it is time to change it up. I mean it is ‘new month, new goal’ time!

Start by deciding if you are going to work on a goal for a small or large amount of time. Do you want to accomplish something in the short term (about 3 months) or long term (6 or more months out)?

Next, decide what you want to focus on. Do you want to lower your cholesterol? Run further? Lose weight?

Then, decide how much. How much do you want to lower your cholesterol? How far do you want to run? How much weight do you want to lose?

The last step is to create a deadline. Take into account what events are occuring in your life, how far you are from your goal, how much time you can commit towards working towards it, and any other factors that may be a concern for you. Once you set an appropriate deadline, work towards it like you can’t change it.

Use Prompts for New Month, New Goals

There are endless prompts to help you discover different aspects about yourself and what your goals are. You can simply use Google or Pinterest! Type in the search bar, ‘goal prompts’ and TONS will appear.

Try going through these 50 Journal Prompts for Self Discovery from Haylie at themorningbuzzblog.com. After, you mind mind you want to accomplish something different than what you previous were thinking!

Prioritize!

For some setting a goal is hard because you have so many goals you want to achieve right now. On the other hand, setting a goal can be hard because you may not have any clue what you want to spend your time working towards.

No matter where you stand you need to prioritize. Decide on the main focus you are aiming to achieve and set that as your target. Attempt to let other potential goals not crowd out what you are prioritizing.

By working on too many things at once you will never achieve the main goal!

Create a SMART Goal

A SMART goal is the best way to set a goal. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound. By developing a goal using the SMART frameworks sets you up to successfully reach your goal!

Specific

It is important to be specific when making a goal. By being as specific as possible there is no confusion on what your exact end goal is.

Instead of having a goal of ‘walking more’ you may want to change it to ‘taking 10,000 steps a day’. This may be what you meant by walking more but by specifically saying you want to take a certain amount of steps gives you a goal to strive for.

Measurable

Creating a goal that is measurable means you can use different points to measure your outcome. Basically, this means there is a way to see progress as you work towards your goal.

If your goal is to lose 5 pounds, you can see your weight decrease by one pound, then two pounds, then three pounds and so on… You are able to measure the progress!

Side note: if your goal is to lose weight, it may decrease, then increase… Don’t be concerned if the scale isn’t always going down!

Attainable

To create an attainable goal is to be realistic. When curating a goal you want it to be something that does require some changes and effort, but not be impossible.

If you are someone who doesn’t tend to run, but have a goal to run a marathon at a 5 minute pace, it may be a bit far-fetched. You may be able to do so eventually, but is it currently attainable?

The same person may choose an attainable goal such as running two consecutive miles at a 7 minute pace or running a 5k. These are goals that will require effort, but are able for the person where they currently stand.

Relevant

Decide on a goal that makes sense for you. If you have no interest in running, why would you make your goal to run a marathon?

Choose a goal that works towards what you want to do.

Do you have an interest in consuming a healthier diet? Choose goals such as learning to read a nutrition label, making a grocery list based on what meals you plan to make, or trying a new healthy recipe!

It just. makes. sense.

p.s. check out may article on 12 Healthy Diet Tips to Start Today! for more ideas if your goal is to eat healthier.

Time-bound

You need a deadline! Without a deadline it is too easy to push off what you are working towards. There are always going to be excuses to push a task off without a deadline. The same is true for a goal!

Set a deadline for yourself that makes sense. If your goal is to gain weight, his may look like giving yourself 3 months to gain 6 pounds. Of course this will look different for everyone, just set a goal that makes sense for you!

Putting Together Your SMART Goal

Now, it is time to put together all 5 aspects of this goal! Try it for yourself- come up with a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

If you need some help getting going i’ll give you some examples:

• I will reduce my total cholesterol level to 190 by August by taking 4 walks a week and replacing 2 meals a week of animal-based protein with plant-based protein.
• If you are actually attempting to lower your cholesterol, check out my article, Simple Changes to Lower Your Cholesterol
• Run a mile in less than 8 minutes by March by increasing my speed by .1 mph every run.
• Eat 5 servings of fruit and veggies for 30 straight days starting today.

New Month, New Goals Takeaways

Before you go and forget everything you just read, here a couple of the main points to take with you:

• You don’t need to wait for the new year to set goals
• Use different questions and prompts to create self-discovery
• Set a SMART goal

If you were able to gain any ideas from this new month, new goals article I would love it if you left a positive comment and share this article with a friend. This is an easy, free way to support me and this page!

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The post New Month, New Goals: Refresh Your Perspective appeared first on The Michigan Dietitian.

You don’t have to make any major changes. Mainly a change of mindset and attitudes.

Choose Happiness

A lot can happen in a year-both good and bad. In these situations its best to choose happiness. Nobody has perfect days all the time. When you find yourself in one of these lesser days, take a moment to consciously choose to look to the bright side.

By choosing happiness you are sure to have a good year. And guess what? No major changes needed!

Say No

You’re not alone when you feel as though you need to attend every invite you receive. This can get overwhelming. Even if it isn’t a ton of events, per say, the social aspect can still be the factor to put you over the edge.

If you aren’t excited for a party or event, don’t go. Simple.

If you just need a night (or more!) to yourself, make it happen.

This small change will have major impact on your wellbeing.

Feel Your Emotions

Forcing happiness won’t make you happy. If you are feeling sad, feel it. Allow yourself to process the emotions. These lower feelings will only make your happiness feel better.

Take Your Time

It’s easy to always feel rushed. Take your time in what you do.

Improve Your Relationships

Surround yourself with people that make you happy and make you a better person.

Soak up the time you spend with them.

Randomly call them to check in with them. Make sure they know you care about them.

Be Grateful

Having legs that can walk, a family that you love, and a roof over your head can seem silly to be grateful for if you’ve always had it.

Be grateful for all the small things in your life this year.

Make Your Flaws Your Strengths

Everyone has flaws. Let’s just not consider them flaws anymore, okay?

Are you clumsy? Nope not anymore- you’re just a little silly!

Get a Therapist

No really. Therapy can be for everyone. Even if you don’t think you need it, you could use it. Everyone could. It can be considered preventative care. It’s a space to talk with a caring health professional. If you don’t even know how to go about starting therapy take a peep at this website or simply ask your primary care provider for a referral.

Become Self-Reliant

In the new year, you are going to be in charge of yourself. That means no relaying on others for your happiness. Make your own happiness.

Be Yourself

This is pretty much the opposite of making a change- thank goodness! There’s really no work here, unless you’ve not been acting like yourself lately.

Get back to who you are.

Make A Cake Just For Fun

I’m sorry but cake really deserves more attention than just on birthdays. Who’s with me?! Humble brag, but my Classic Cheesecake with Sour Cream is exactly the first cake you should make. And pro tip- take a fork and just go to town. Enjoy the experience.

Just be happy.

Do You

Along with being yourself, do you. That means doing what you want without allowing others comments and opinions to impact your choices.

You too can become happy in the new year without any changes!

How To Implement These Tips To Be Happy In The New Year

1. Start small- pick one and work on it for a week (or even a month) until it becomes habitual
2. Write it down somewhere you’ll be reminded every morning
3. Don’t get discouraged
4. Tell a friend to skip the classic resolutions this year!
5. Keep a monthly goal written in a calendar or planner to keep you on track

By implementing at least some of these ideas you’re sure to have a happier and more fulfilled new year, without the stress of a resolution.

The post How To Be Happy In The New Year Without Changing Yourself appeared first on The Michigan Dietitian.