Do you know the significance of January 19th?
It’s not National Cheese Ball Day (that’s in April).
Or International No Diet Day (May 16th),
Or National Eat Your Jello Day (July 12th).
January 19th is known as “Quitter’s Day by Strava, a fitness tracker and site. They analyzed more than 31.5 million fitness records from its users and discovered that January 19th is the date when people hang up their sneakers and run for the nearest donut shop. By June, only 40 percent of people have kept their resolutions, and only 8 percent achieve their New Year’s goals according to a University of Scranton study.
So, what’s the problem with resolutions? People often declare lofty, vague, and unrealistic goals for themselves. Instead, foodies on the path to self-improvement should opt to adopt better habits instead.
Changing one’s eating habits is difficult in the short term and, for most of us, impossible in the long term if the changes being made leave us feeling deprived. At A Taste of Olive, we believe that if we bring to our customers high quality and delicious olive oils, nut oils, balsamic vinegars, and other gourmet products, both delicious meals and healthy eating will naturally follow. Here are a few of our favorite healthy habits to implement this year:
No need to choose between health or flavor. When you start a recipe with a high-quality, flavor-infused olive oil, there's no need to rescue your food with extra butter or salt. Add Bacon Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your omelet. Lighten up chicken piccata with our Butter Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Redefine roasted veggies by drizzling them with Sorrento Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or our House Blend before it goes in the oven. Keep the flavor without the guilt!
If you can’t pronounce it, keep it off your plate. Swap additive-filled bottled dressings with a homemade dressing that only requires two ingredients. With more than 80 balsamic vinegars and olive oils in our stores, the possibilities are endless. A few of our favorite pairings include Persian Lime Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Honey Ginger White Balsamic Vinegar, Cinnamon Pear Balsamic Vinegar and Basil Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cranberry Walnut Balsamic Vinegar and Roasted French Walnut Oil. Need more inspiration? Find more dressing and marinade recipes here.
Keep it Dry. After one taste of Spicers Mill's Sweet Cherry Meat Rub, Sassy Salmon Rub and Seasoning, or Blue Ribbon Pecan Rub, you’ll never look at meat in the same way again. Dry rubs retain meat’s moisture while packing huge flavors without unnecessary calories. Plus, you’re making the world a little greener by supporting a company that offers a 100 percent plastic-free packaging! In-store only.
Make Snacks Count. It doesn't have to be a special occasion to break out our tapenades; it can just be to Tuesday! Skip the chips for your afternoon pick-me-up, and pair the Artichoke and Green Olive Tapenade with a Rosemary Sea Salt Firehook Cracker. Lightly roasted organic crackers are also a great tool for picking up chicken salad tuna salad.
What healthy habits are on your list for 2020?
