New Year’s Resolutions – Keeping Up With Your Diet in the New Year

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New Year’s Resolutions – Keeping Up With Your Diet in the New Year

If you’re like many Americans, resolving to eat healthily made your list of 2022 resolutions. But as you power through the new year, eating healthy can be challenging when faced with budget concerns, a growing family, a heavy workload, or various other priorities. At Nick’s of Clinton, we are here to help you meet your New Year’s resolution to keep up with your diet throughout 2022. Here are some tips for keeping up with your diet in the New Year.

Know the Basics of a Healthy Diet 

The first thing you should familiarize yourself with when working to improve your diet is knowing what constitutes a good diet. While how food will impact you depends on many things, including your tolerance for certain foods, any underlying health conditions, and your exercise level, most experts agree about the following: 

  • Most nutritionists agree that vegetables are integral to a healthy diet, and some even advocate for a fully plant-based diet or believe that a significant portion of a person’s calories should come from vegetables. Vegetables are important because they contain vitamins and minerals that are essential for health.
  • While some people have trouble digesting grains or have an inflammatory reaction, for others, grains can be a great source of nutrients. Choose whole grains whenever possible. White flour, for example, is virtually devoid of nutrients as it’s made only from the endosperm. 
  • When it comes to protein, it is very important to get enough protein daily for optimal health. Most experts recommend that lean protein sources are best, and that oily fish is one of the best sources of protein out there. Some experts also say that eating red meat in moderation is good for you, as red meat has vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients that your body needs. If you are a vegetarian, there are numerous sources of non-animal protein available. 
  • While many people who are dieting think that fat should be avoided altogether, the real culprit when it comes to weight gain and poor health is sugar. Fat is actually essential to providing energy and supporting cell function, but some fats are better than others.

By eating a combination of the above and avoiding high-sugar foods or foods with lots of additives, you’ll be taking the first steps towards a better diet. 

Prepare Your Own Food or Choose Consciously Prepared Food 

Another thing to consider when keeping up with your diet is whether you’re making your own food or buying pre-packaged or pre-made food. Nine out of 10 times, making your own food from scratch using fresh ingredients will be better for you. Not only is food more nutritious when it’s prepared fresh, but it also is much less likely to have additives, preservatives, or other artificial ingredients that can be bad for health. If you are buying prepared food, choose prepared foods that are made fresh and that aren’t pre-packaged or boxed. 

Don’t Forget About Other Elements of Good Health 

While a healthy diet is arguably one of the most important parts of maintaining good health, it isn’t the only one. It’s important that you support your health in other ways too, such as by exercising and prioritizing self-care and stress management. When you are feeling healthy in other areas of your life, this may motivate you to continue eating healthy and it may also lead to faster results. If you’re struggling to motivate yourself, find a friend or family member who can serve as an accountability buddy—you can pursue good health as a team.

Get Support in Your Journey to Eat Healthy at Nick’s of Clinton 

At Nick’s of Clinton, we have the produce, meat, dairy, and other foods that you’re looking for. If you’re ready to take up healthy shopping and eating, we have everything you need to be supported along the journey. Not only do we have a full-service meat counter and deli, but we also have numerous delicious and healthy prepared food options for those days when you don’t have time to cook.

To learn more about Nick’s of Clinton, call us at (301) 843-4825 or email us today. We look forward to seeing you!

Accidents in the Kitchen – Be Careful While Cooking Your Holiday Meal

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The holidays are meant to be a time when loved ones come together to share a meal and enjoy each other’s company. Unfortunately, accidents in kitchens also spike during the holiday season. Families might spend more time than usual prepping, baking, and cooking. From personal safety to food safety, there is a lot to consider, so be prepared and avoid serious mishaps this holiday season with these simple tips.

Understanding Kitchen Safety Hazards

To avoid accidents in the kitchen, it’s important to understand the various dangers that exist in the kitchen. Here are some kitchen hazards that are common causes of holiday accidents.

Kitchen Knives

  • Always handle kitchen knives with caution.
  • When chopping a round object, cut one side carefully and then place the flat side down on a block so that the item is stable for additional chopping.
  • Keep your knives sharpened so you can avoid straining while using them.
  • To prevent blade contact, place one hand on the knife handle and the other on top of the knife.

Small Kitchen Appliances

  • Read the directions carefully for your small kitchen appliances.
  • Avoid overfilling any appliance, like a crockpot or coffee maker.
  • Make sure small appliances are on a flat, heat-safe surface.

Hot Dishes

  • Use tongs to handle hot items, staying mindful of water or oil splashing.
  • Avoid leaving items unattended while cooking on a stovetop. Use oven mitts to remove a hot lid when checking a dish.
  • Avoid overfilling a pot when boiling water. Make sure you have a clear path to the sink (no children or pets in the room) when you dump boiling water.
  • When removing a pan or dish from the oven, use oven-safe mittens and make sure you hold the dish well away from your body.

Kitchen Fires

  • Never use water on a grease fire. Instead, use baking soda or smother the flames with a pot cover.
  • For stove, oven, or microwave fires, shut off the appliance and unplug it if possible.
  • Use a fire extinguisher for electrical fires – not water.
  • As a safety precaution, call the fire department after you’ve experienced a kitchen fire.

Practice Appropriate Food Safety

In addition to accidents related to sharp objects, heat, and appliances, there are many safety issues surrounding food preparation. If food isn’t stored or prepared correctly, you and your loved ones could experience food poisoning. Here are some helpful tips to follow:

Storing Food Properly

  • Depending on the temperature of your kitchen or home, it’s important to refrigerate food within one to two hours of the meal.
  • Your freezer temperature should be below zero, and your refrigerator should be kept at below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • After wrapping securing, store meat on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator to lower the chances of juices dripping on other items.

Smart Food Shopping

  • Avoid purchasing any food that is past its expiration date.
  • Don’t buy damaged or dented boxes or cans of food.
  • Avoid purchasing meat in a leaking or torn package.
  • Purchase your perishable foods last.

Washing Your Hands

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you begin preparing your holiday meal.
  • As your hands come into contact with various surfaces and food throughout the day, wash them again to avoid spreading bacteria.

Thawing Meat Correctly

  • Plan in advance to thaw meat in the refrigerator.
  • If thawing meat in cold water, allow 30 minutes for every pound and cook immediately after thawing.
  • Place meat in a pan or bowl so that it doesn’t drip on other meat as it thaws.

Safe Cooking With Oils

  • Avoid splashing and minor burns by heating your oil slowly.
  • Add food to hot oil slowly to avoid splashing.
  • If you smell food burning, turn the heat off and wait several minutes for the oil to cool.
  • Let oily pots and pans cool completely before cleaning them to avoid burns.

Avoiding Food Cross-Contamination

  • Use clean and separate cutting boards for every type of food. Always use plastic cutting boards for meat.
  • Use a sanitizing solution to clean all surfaces after cutting raw fish or meat.
  • Never return cooked fish or meat to the same plate you used to transport or store the items raw.

Use Only Use the Best Ingredients

When it comes to food safety, the ingredients you use are important. At Nick’s of Clinton, we carry high-quality products and can help complete your holiday shopping in no time. Whether you are looking for the freshest meats, need to cater part of your meal, or want to complement it with the right beer, wine, or spirits, find out how we can help. Give us a call at (301) 843-4825 or visit our Waldorf, MD location today.