Time’s running out to buy a gift for the holidays, but it’s not too soon to think about New Year’s resolutions. Once the cookies have crumbled and the mulled wine has spilled, inevitably, it will become time when everyone starts fretting about how to live healthier starting Jan. 1.
The easiest way to ensure those resolutions will be kept throughout the ensuing 12 months is to start simple, perhaps with just a new routine in the morning or a slight adjustment to one’s diet before branching out to more changes. Here’s a list of ideas for anyone who might be looking for inspiration on how to kick off 2022 on a healthier note.
Clean Energy Smoothies
Smoothies are the gateway drinks to a healthier breakfast—at least compared with the usual carb-heavy items like doughnuts and bagels. The key to a good smoothie is not going overboard on the fruit (because of the sugar content). If you’re looking for something super easy to pick up while on the go in the morning, Clean Energy’s smoothies are not as heavy or dry as an energy bar, and more naturally nutritious than a sports drink or gel, making them a good pre-, during, or post-workout energizer, or ideal as an electrolyte booster on a hike, bike, canoe, climb, or run. SRP: $24 for a pack of eight pouches in its debut flavor combo: banana, strawberry, blueberry, spinach, and flaxseed.
Splendid Spoon 21-Day Reset
If you’re looking to jump-start your entire diet, a meal plan can help you with little work required. Splendid Spoon, which ships ready-to-eat plant-based meals and smoothies nationwide, is launching its 21-day reset (on Jan. 10, so you have some extra time) with a curated meal plan designed to help you “glow” inside out, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Subscribers will also receive daily advice and tips in their inboxes to stay motivated. Menu items include green curry noodles with broccoli and lemongrass; cauliflower potato chowder soup with navy beans and rosemary; and a kimchi fried quinoa grain bowl with turmeric and edamame. SRP: Plans range from $65 for five lunches per week to $185 for five days of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Good Stock Soups
Good Stock first launched in the fall of 2014 at New York food festival Smorgasburg, and has since grown to several brick-and-mortar locations around the city. The independent purveyor also ships nationwide, taking orders of six, nine, or 12 frozen packaged soups per box. Good Stock prides itself on using all-natural vegetables, and many of its soups are vegan and gluten-free. SRP: $9 per soup as well as the easy gifting option of $54 for the Best Sellers bundle of six soups: roasted tomato, carrot and ginger, lentil, roasted mushroom, minestrone, and butternut squash.
Hand on Heart Nonalcoholic Wines
It has never been better to do Dry January than now. It might not be easy, but it’s easier than past years with many more nonalcoholic but still satisfying alternatives on the market. The newest nonalcoholic wine comes from celebrity chef Cat Cora. Made in collaboration with the Miller Family Wine Co., the wines—including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and rosé—are lower in sugar, calories, and carbs than most other zero- and low-alcohol beverages. And they will officially launch Jan. 1, 2022. SRP: $15 per bottle.
Poppi Prebiotic Sodas
For people looking to give up sugary drinks altogether—but who still want a kick stronger than water—there has been a boom in “better for you” sodas on the market over the past few years. Infused with apple cider vinegar to improve your gut, Poppi contains half the calories of other comparable drinks at 20 calories and five grams of sugar per can. And Poppi is available in a wide variety of flavors, from classic cola and root beer to strawberry lemon or blueberry. SRP: $30 for a 12-pack.
Beautiful High-Performance Touchscreen Blender
You don’t need a Vitamix to make a good smoothie. If you’re looking for an entry-level model to get started with making your own green juice and/or smoothies, Drew Barrymore’s new kitchenware line, Beautiful, lives up to the name with an elegantly designed set of household appliances, including a powerful blender with seven functions for crushing ice and blending fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables within seconds. SRP: $59
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