Resolution #2: Upgrade the fat you eat.
By now you know that some fat is healthful. The bulk of your fats will ideally come from plant sources, like nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados, and nut butters like almond butter, cashew butter, and sun butter.
If you choose to eat dairy fats, they should be kept to a minimum, and they should be upgraded to organic and grass fed. I prefer ghee (clarified butter), which in Ayurvedic philosophy is considered a health food. Ghee is especially good for sautéing, since it has a higher smoke point than butter.
When it comes to vegetable oils, the healthiest are olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and toasted sesame oil (as flavor in Asian dishes). Avoid canola, soybean, sunflower, and safflower oils, which are highly processed and almost always genetically modified.
Olive oil is not all created equal. You’ll want to choose high-grade organic extra virgin olive oil and only use it raw, since once you cook it, the healthful compounds are killed. If you want to use olive oil for cooking, purchase an organic extra virgin that isn’t as expensive as the higher grade ones. For the absolute best olive oil, we recommend Organic Olea Blue, which has the highest levels of anti-inflammatory oleocanthal.
Resolution #3: Upgrade your booze.
I like beer and wine, as well as the occasional cocktail. When I decide to indulge in alcohol, I like to buy high quality beers from small breweries like they have in Vermont, or very high quality organic wine.
I have always preferred white wine, but studies show red is a little healthier, so I’ve been working to find reds that I like (namely, ones that don’t feel harsh or hot on my throat). Since I always buy organic grapes (they are a Dirty Dozen produce item, after all), I’ve always been concerned about the wine that isn’t organic.
I tried some organic wines over the years, and the only one I found that I liked was Bonterra Organic Chardonnay, and even that wasn’t incredible. I was very excited to find Dry Farm wines, a wine subscription service that I delivers only organic, biodynamic, low-sugar wines.
I love both the reds and whites I’ve received from Dry Farm Wines, ordered their red bottles and and really loved the taste of the red wines which are organic and sourced from small traditional vineyards. All of Dry Farm’s wines are imported, because all United States wine is contaminated with Roundup (the Monsanto weed killer). Because the high-quality wines sourced by Dry Farms are lower in alcohol than conventional wines, you’ll feel better after a couple of glasses.
Resolution #4: Upgrade packaged snacks.
Most healthy eating plans tell you to give up packaged foods, and this is very good advice! However, this month, I encourage you to simply upgrade your snacks. Some of my favorites are:
