Lindsey Duncan

New Year’s resolutions can be different for everyone, but among the myriad of vows and renewed dedication to lifestyle improvements for 2007, there seems to be at least one idea that makes a popular comeback every January. In the wake of Christmas cookies and stockings full of chocolate, the familiar desire surfaces: better health.

Christopher Lemieux, freshman nutritional science major from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., said he tries to inform people about the value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle as an employee at Vitamins Plus, a store that sells organic foods and dietary supplements.

“A lot of people just don’t know the basics,” he said.

Lemieux said he believes a lot of individuals do not get the recommended daily vitamin requirements.

“Today’s food lacks recommended nutrition,” he said, “so that’s where a multi-vitamin picks up the slack.”

Lemieux said most vitamins are taken out during food processing, leaving many foods vitamin deficient and unable to meet the requirements of a healthy diet.

A good basic program for someone who wants to supplement their diet with vitamins would include a good multi-vitamin with a combination of B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and a calcium/magnesium combination with vitamin D, said Barbara Felton, department manager of Vitamins Plus.

Felton said she believes it is a good idea to use fish or flax seed oil as a source of omega vitamins.

“There are vitamins for all different ages,” she said, “there are vitamins for teenage boys, teenage girls, young people and older people.”

Felton said she regularly sells prenatal vitamins to women of all ages.

“Prenatal vitamins are great for your hair and nails and they provide a number of other good supplements for women,” she said.

For people who are looking to start the new year off with healthier habits, Felton said she recommends taking a close look at the things you consume in your daily diet - liquid and solid.

“You know, things like fructose syrup is in most of the foods and sodas that we drink,” she said. “A lot of those sweeteners can lead to diabetes or obesity. Soda pop used to be a once a week treat when I was growing up, and that’s how it should be.”

Felton said she believes college students struggling with a hectic schedule that lends itself to the convenience of a fast-food fix might want to consider some of the following ideas to get healthier foods into their daily diet.

Felton said he believes breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A good breakfast helps wake your body up and fuels your mind, Felton said. Try a cup of yogurt, a piece of fruit, or a bowl of fiber-based cereal. Yogurt is a good choice because it contains probiotics, which Felton said are good bacteria that assist the body’s functions. She said donuts and pastries might provide a short wake-up buzz, but in the end they are full of empty calories.

Felton said that while she understands the restrictions of a tight budget, foods like deli meat, cottage cheese, salads, roasted chicken, whole grain pastas, and organic frozen dinners are much healthier than fast food and are comparable in price.

For dinner, Felton said loading up on vegetables and protein is a good way to round off your appetite.

“Stay away from too much red meat,” she said. “But things like turkey burgers and chicken are easy to prepare for a quick meal. You can add rice or some pasta too.”

Sarah Duffey, an employee at Vitamins Plus, said she believes most people choose to stop for fast food because they think it is easier than cooking.

“It’s not really though,” she said. “I only eat out about once a week, and I cook the rest of the time.”

Source: Dailytoreador.com