Why you should put FRUIT at the top of your New Year resolutions

It is that time of year when you are probably reflecting on 2018 and looking forward to the upcoming New Year. After the indulgence of Christmas, many people find that setting New Year’s resolutions helps them to focus on a brighter year ahead, shaking the guilt of the overindulgence off. However, unfortunately, many people fail to keep to their resolutions and within a few weeks, end up falling off the wagon.

So, here’s a tip. Set just one resolution. Set one resolution which will really make a difference, one that is measurable (i.e. not something like ‘be happier in 2019’) and one that is relatively easy to stick to. One of the best resolutions you could set yourself this year is this:eat more fruit.

Eating fruit is underestimated, but really important. The NHS says, “Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium. They're an excellent source of dietary fibre, which can help to maintain a healthy gut and prevent constipation and other digestion problems. A diet high in fibre can also reduce your risk of bowel cancer.”

What’s good about this resolution is that it is cheap and easy to fulfil. Simply buy an extra bag of apples, oranges or bananas on your food order. It will only be a few ££’s! Then, just put one apple in your bag on the way to work instead of a bag of crisps, or whatever your usual treat is. The key is breaking the old cycle of salt and sugar and reintroducing something new. It will soon become routine and get easier each day. 

There are many benefits to eating fruit. Fruitful Office, who deliver food baskets to companies across the UK, say that staff in their study found that they worked more productively after eating fruit at work. And why wouldn’t you want to be more productive? Fruit can also help build a stronger immune system, which is vital at this time of year with all the coughs and colds making the rounds. 

Some people say that they find fruit boring or uninspiring. In that case, try and mix it up a bit. What about trying a fruit at the supermarket that you’ve never had before? Or, what about mixing fruit together to make a delicious fruit salad? You can also try dried fruit, like dried apricots, which can be easier to eat at your desk and are a good source of iron. Mix this with some seeds and nuts for an 11am pick-me-up.

It doesn’t have to be a massive change that you make for 2019 to make a difference to your life. Rather than choosing all the old resolutions like ‘lose weight’ you can pick something more specific which you are far more likely to stick to. If you have a family, your change will probably have a knock on effect on others in the house, too.