Blueberries

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. I received a stipend to facilitate my purchase for my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

At the beginning of this month, I posted this on my Facebook Page :

Making any kind of change in your life can feel overwhelming. If you’re ready to make positive changes to your health and well-being but the very thought of it sends you into a frenzy, why not start small? Choose one or two small things you know you can do that will make a positive impact on your health. 

Here are a few ideas: 

— Use salad plates for your meal instead of dinner plates 
— Aim to eat leafy greens at every meal 
— Increase your water intake by one glass a day and build from there
— Take the stairs instead of the elevator or get off one stop earlier on the bus or subway 
— Move your body for at least 30 minutes a day 

Small changes add up to big shifts. The most important thing is that you start somewhere!

Come January 1, people tend to set lofty goals. I know because I’ve done it before and ended up feeling defeated and overwhelmed. I’ve found that when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions – or making changes any time of the year for that matter – success rates are higher when goals are smaller and feel more attainable. 

The truth is, little changes over time are more attainable and sustainable and lead to big rewards. 

Last week I wrote about drinking one green juice a day as a way to create a healthy lifestyle habit of regular juicing. 

Another way you can “add in” healthy foods to your diet is to eat a serving of blueberries each day. They’re healthy, simple and versatile and are a perfect addition to recipes and snacks. 

I like to add them to my morning oatmeal. I get a dose of antioxidants, a bit of fiber (3.6 grams per serving) and a hit of naturally sweet flavor in addition to Vitamin C, K and manganese. 

I also love to grab a handful of blueberries to snack on with raw almonds or cashews for a quick snack.

The domestic blueberry season runs April to September but you’ll see fresh blueberries in store year-round imported from Chile, Peru and Argentina. During the off-season, I like to stock up on frozen blueberries which are picked at peak freshness and flash frozen. I add them to smoothies and healthy baked goods. 

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council website hosts a variety of tips on how to make eating blueberries a part of your lifestyle as well as a slew of recipes that incorporate blueberries.

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is hosting a sweepstakes to encourage you to choose little and win BIG. Click here to enter to win a trip for two to LA for the Little Changes Kitchen Challenge alongside actress, author and TV host Alison Sweeney.
Runners up may win one of four $500 Whole Foods or Lululemon gift cards for a refreshed pantry or workout wardrobe! Sweepstakes closes February 16, 2015!

What are some ways you’re starting small to meet your wellness goals and aspirations for 2015?