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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

On New Year's, people look forward and back, as did the two-headed Roman god Janus, who lent his name to the first month of the year. It's a time for resolutions a custom that goes back several millennia to the Babylonians, whose most popular one reportedly was to return borrowed farm implements.

Nowadays, we're more likely to resolve to become better, eat healthier, skinnier, more fit, more patient, and smoke-free. The most common New Year's resolutions are related to eating healthier, exercising more, and losing weight.

Another great New Year's resolution is to take better care of the environment. After all, keeping the earth healthy makes it easier to keep ourselves healthy! http://ecobites.com/content/view/694/48/

When it comes to making a New Year's resolution, remember to set realistic goals and set up checkpoints for yourself throughout the coming year to reduce the chances of forgetting about that resolution after January passes. Good luck!

1. Get the edge on your co-workers and friends with healthy treats to pass around the home or office that will reduce stress and your waistline at the same
   time. Eco Bites has recipes for low calorie and sugar – free desserts and treats, or you can try substituting healthier ingredients, like organic rice syrup / organic dried fruit instead of sugar for those sweet indulgences.It wouldn't be a new year's list without a mention of body weight. Try to eat more whole organic foods and reduce your dependence on packaged food. You may realize an added bonus, along with reducing all of that packaging waste, you may find you'll lose a few pounds from your waist!
   
2. Exercise is usually tops on everyone's resolution list. There are great tips to incorporate regular exercise into your holiday tasks. You can make it a family event that will have everyone working together and staying fit. Also, park your car as far as possible from the stores, so by the time you return to it with gifts, you'll feel like you've been on the treadmill for an hour. Take a walk, sign up for a local exercise calls,start your organic  veggie patch or try a new sport like swimming, roller blading or bike riding.
3. To escape the bombardment of advertising and shopping, take some time out to do meditatation or yoga. This will help you better deal with all the shoppers and bargain hunters.
4. Saving money.As you try to take some simple steps to green your home, like lowering your thermostat a bit, trying to find second-hand versions of things you need before you buy new, and generally following the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle lesson, you may find that you'll start saving money too.
5. Looking cool at the supermarket or the coffee shop.Bring your reusable bags to the supermarket and that reusable mug to the coffee shop and you'll be looking all hip, not unlike all those Hollywood folks.
6. You may find that you'll start wanting less and less, and start questioning your purchases, "Do I really need that?" As you reduce your need for physical things, you may find that you start seeking more real-life adventures and experiences, enriching your life.
   
7. Being a good role model for your kids, nephews, nieces.The best way to teach kids about the environment is to be a good role model. When kids see you recycling and being careful with your consumption and taking them outside for a nature walk instead of to the shopping mall, they learn to appreciate the natural world.
   
8. The holidays are first and foremost a time for family and friends. Make extra time for social events but try not to over extend your commitments. Learn to just say, ‘yes’ to the events that will increase your well-being. In addition, other holiday wellness tips include family trips (picnic /biking / hiking), a game of seeing who can get the most done on their list in the shortest time, gardening, and take a night to eat healthy organic food and sing holiday songs together.
9. You may find your home will become a happier, more grooving place as you strive to make it greener. Less clutter, less waste, more of the good things of life.Challenge yourself. See how little trash you can produce this month, how long you can make that tank of gas last, time your showers,how low you can set your thermostat. One fun game is to make some simple changes at home regarding electricity and heat / cooling. Then analyze your energy bill to see how much your usage went down. The result may shock you!
   
10. Lastly, as the holiday is also a time of thinking of, and sharing with, others, try to set aside some time for yourself and to share with charitable organizations. You can volunteer your time to help an earth-friendly organization or other charitable donation. There are a number of charitable organizations that need extra help during this time.

Any and all of these ideas can help to restore balance to this hectic time of the year, and can help you to begin the New Year with health and good cheer for you and the planet!

Related Recipe Articles:

  
HEALTHY BITES  Recipe ideas without all the nasties using love and care + organic ingredients. Enjoy ecobites' collection of fully illustrated recipes (with photos). All written exclusively for ecobites by CEO Lyn Stein (or user submitted). Eating healthy doesn't have to be bland. Choose from soups, starters, snacks, drinks, exotic fruit treats, vegetable dishes, pasta and more. Click here to visit ecobites' recipes.

 ECO KIDS CORNER Tasty recipes for children to eat and/or create. Tried and proven healthy recipes without sugar and processed foods that children love. Get your children to create these recipes and you will have started them on a lifelong journey of great food and excellent dietry habits. Click here to visit Eco Kids Corner Recipes.