This post was written in partnership with New Chapter Vitamins. All opinions reflected are my own. Thank you for supporting projects that make Nutrition Happen!

It’s not a new year without getting slammed with nutrition messages that push all liquid “cleanses” or “detoxes” without substantial, nutritious food. News flash: your body can detox with real food that’s good for you. It’s been proven again and again that diets that are too extreme or unsustainable over the long-term does NOT work.

Healthy eating should make you feel good in a way that fits into your current lifestyle in a natural and maintainable way. But between all of the different “healthy” eating plans buzzing around the media today, I know how confusing it is to pick the best one for your personal lifestyle. Dietary preferences will always look different on everyone because there are no two genetics, habits, and health priorities that are the same. However, the one underlying similarity between all of them is this: making wholesome, delicious, and real food choices a priority (or, at least 80% of the time!).

The key to a healthy lifestyle is incorporating smaller, EASY transitions throughout each week so that it naturally turns into choices that feel automatic. It is not an all or nothing approach – it doesn’t have to be restrictive or boring! Instead of looking for tips you might forget about in the next few months, here are three suggestions that help you become more mindful about nutrition. Any time you feel off track, you can re-evaluate and implement them back in during your health journey to make better choices:

1. Get HONEST with your health goals.

Before you jump right into the nitty gritty like grocery lists and recipes, asking yourself this will help keep your motivations clear: what exactly are your health goals? Is it for overall health or aesthetic purposes? Are you motivated by the media, someone else or is this part of a self-care routine that you feel is comfortable 100% for you? It’s important to to be honest in what you are hoping to achieve and understand that the goals you set should cater to YOU. Remove the comparisons to other people and ask yourself these other helpful questions: how do I want to feel? WHY am I making these choices? This will make you more mindful and focused on your personal goals.

2. Focus on what you CAN do instead of what you didn’t do.

Also, let’s keep in mind that perfection is not the ultimate goal – feeling good both physically and mentally about the choices you make is all part of the healthy journey. While our goal might be to reach for lots of nutritious foods throughout the week (and maybe you already do), there are days we may fall short and not eat a vegetable at all – life happens and that is 100% okay! Remember, it is never about deprivation but more about the healthy choices we make over time. One or two indulgent meals will not define our health status.

One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re covered with the nutrients you need is with a multivitamin. The thing to note about vitamins is that what you choose matters.

Always choose from a reputable source with transparency behind the mission for their company. New Chapter vitamins are fermented with probiotics and whole foods, and made with organic vegetables and herbs – so they use a whole-foods approach. The fermentation allows for easy digestion and absorption of the vitamins by our bodies. Each whole-food fermented formula is gentle enough to take on an empty stomach. Vitamins do not necessary replace the benefits from a healthy diet and regular exercise, but think of it more as nutrition “insurance”, which we can all benefit from.

There are several studies that show how taking a whole foods approach to eating is a simple yet effective way to handle inflammation in the body. While inflammation is a normal response from our bodies (particularly after physical activity – think about a time when you were sore after a workout!), the same whole food approach can be used to support occasional pain related to inflammation*. New Chapter’s Zyflamend Whole Body is an herbal approach to pain relief that includes a blend of turmeric, ginger, rosemary and green tea and supports joint function and motility.* Curcumin, the active component found in turmeric, can be taken own its own to reduce inflamation, but Zyflamend delivers curcumin along with hundreds of other herbal compounds, making it more full-stectrum, Again, think of this as a great option for nutrition “insurance” that helps support your healthy lifestyle journey. 

3. Make whole foods a priority.

One of the easiest ways to eat in a more healthful way is to stick to whole, real foods (as in, foods closest to their natural state – think whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fresh meat) you LOVE. Instead of thinking about calories, numbers, and grams of a certain food, start thinking about the whole foods you love to eat and make those choices a priority throughout your meals each day. For example, when you think about what is going into your meals, how many whole foods do you see? Make it a point to reach for at least one or two vegetables each time. By making whole foods a priority, oftentimes the nutrition part takes care of itself.

Incorporating a vitamin into a health-care is an effortless way to maintain and enhance any lifestyle, no matter what your priorities are. You can find New Chapter vitamins at Whole Foods, Amazon, or purchase directly from their online store (shipping is always free!).

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

**Certified Organic by International Certification Services, Inc., Medina, ND, USA