Creating SMART Nutrition Resolutions

Have you made your resolution for 2022 yet?

Many of us make health-based resolutions for the coming year. However, we often forget to set deadlines for our resolution or do not have a plan for how we are going to achieve our health goals. In short, this means our goals last for a month or two before we toss them aside.

But you do not need to be a part of this fruitless cycle. You can achieve your 2022 health resolution — and all your other resolutions for that matter.

SMART goals are a structured approach to setting and achieving goals. SMART is an acronym for the 5 components of your goal:

• • Specific – describe in detail what your goal is.
  • Measurable – decide how you will measure your progress.
  • Attainable – make sure you have all the tools & information you need to reach your goal.
  • Realistic/Relevant – ensure your goal is challenging but not impossible & matters to you.
  • Time-bound – create a deadline for your goal.

You can learn more about the components of SMART goals from my blog, How to Conquer Your Nutrition Goals.

Making SMART goals can help you to identify,

• • Any tools you need to achieve your goal
  • Some of the challenges you may face in achieving your goals
  • How long it will take to achieve your goal

Creating SMART goals will help you to make sure you have everything you need to start, continue and accomplish your New Year’s health goals. Additionally, SMART goals can be used for any type of goal you have — not just health goals.

Instead of: I want to lose some weight in 2022.

Try: I will lose 10 pounds by the end of February (2022) by exercising 3 times a week for 45 minutes and increasing my fruit and vegetable intake.

Instead of: I want to eat a more healthy diet in 2022.

Try: I will eat more healthily by including fruits and vegetables at least 2 meals a day by the end of January (2022.)

There are many ways that a Registered Dietitian can help you reach your health and nutrition goals.

Registered Dietitians help clients set and achieve their SMART goals. Setting SMART goals can feel overwhelming, but it gets easier with practice. A Dietitian can help you identify ways to narrow your goal, ways to reach your goals, choose practical timeframes and identify the tools you need to meet your goals! 

Additionally, Registered Dietitians are experts in nutrition, with years of education and training. When you work with a Registered Dietitian, you receive personalized nutrition counselling that takes into account chronic conditions, health concerns, your lifestyle and what foods you enjoy (and dislike!). Unlike popular diets, there are no set rules when you work with a Dietitian. This means there is no “right” or “wrong” way of eating, and failing a diet is impossible. Dietitians will help you problem-solve and answer any questions or challenges you meet along the way. 

Working with a Registered Dietitian will also provide you with the extra accountability you need to stay on track and motivated with your goals. Research shows that we have a 65% chance of achieving a goal if we tell someone we are going to do it. However, research also shows that our chance of achieving a goal increases to 95% if we have specific accountability appointments with the person we told our goal (Oppong, 2017).

Your health is a long-term goal, with many shorter goals. We want to stay healthy for as long as possible, not just a month or two. 

However, making changes to many aspects of our health at once can be overwhelming. This is why it is useful to break your long-term health goals into smaller, shorter goals. Some examples of short-term health goals include,

• • Losing weight
  • Learning to control your blood sugar better
  • Understanding what foods are triggers for your intolerances
  • Exercising more often

Although diets may support some of your short-term health goals (such as losing weight) they cannot support all aspects of your health. This means diets come at a cost. Many diets boast fast weight loss but can other areas of your health, including heart health. 

You can learn more about the pros and cons of popular diets from my post, Choosing the BEST Weight Loss Diet.

Don’t forget your health goals this year! Work with a Registered Dietitian to set SMART nutrition goals and ensure you accomplish your 2022 resolutions with expertise knowledge and personalized nutrition. 

Book a FREE discovery call today! Appointments are currently available both in-person and online for your convenience.

Oppong, T. (2017, March 20). Psychological Secrets to Hack Your Way to Better Life Habits. Observer. https://observer.com/2017/03/psychological-secrets-hack-better-life-habits-psychology-productivity/