Can you believe it’s 2024?

2023 was an incredibly busy year for me, my family, and our stores. November and December were especially busy. I feel like I haven’t had the chance to catch my breath since October! I’m looking forward to catching up on some rest and relaxation in January…I hope.  

That is one of several New Year’s resolutions I have this year. To get better at holding space for just myself.

New Year’s resolutions can take so many different forms. They can be “small”, like deciding to go for a short walk every day after work or “big", like quitting smoking or committing to transforming your diet.  

But no matter how “small” or “big” your New Year’s resolution, they can be transformative and make your life better. To make sticking to your resolution easier, try the following:

• Start small
• Make a plan
• Stay positive
• Make it measurable
• Reward yourself when you succeed!

A recent Forbes article highlighted that nearly 50% of the New Year’s resolutions American’s make are health or fitness related. Wanting to work out more, eat healthier, improve your mental health and thousands of other variations.

For anyone who has a health-related New Year’s Resolution (or just like tasty snacks), I wanted to share one of my favorite healthy habits.

The breakfast smoothie.

Smoothies are an ideal way to start the day. You can easily create something yummy that is packed with greens, fruits, proteins and healthy fats, without fussing in the kitchen for hours. They are easy to assemble ahead of time and freeze for convenient breakfasts.

I always add a bit of extra virgin olive oil to my smoothies for a boost of antioxidants and polyphenols. It also adds a bit of creaminess and “mouthfeel”.

Below is one of my go-to green smoothies (that tastes anything but green).

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup baby spinach (fresh or frozen ahead of time)
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 cup pineapple chunks, canned frozen or fresh
• ¼ cup walnuts
• 2 tablespoons fruity Rocky Mountain Olive Oil White Balsamic Vinegar, like Coconut or Alfoos Mango
• 2 teaspoons high-polyphenol Rocky Mountain Olive Oil Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• ½ cup oat milk or water

To prepare, place all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more oat milk or water and blend until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Green smoothies not your thing? Try a protein-packed Orange Julius Smoothie with Roasted Almond Oil or a fruity antioxidant-filled Strawberry-Blueberry Smoothie to start your day.

Whatever your New Year’s resolution, I hope it goes well, and cheers to 2024!

Ciao!

Andi