The most popular New Year Resolution is a healthy lifestyle; everyone starts the year with healthy eating habits, controlling portions or planning a workout schedule.

If you are planning such a new step in your life, here are some preliminary tips to begin and maintain your resolution by owner and director of “So7i Wa Sari3″ company Monique Bassila Zaarour.

Changing lifestyle isn’t only about food, it is necessary to make important changes such as:
•    Quitting smoking
•    Avoiding excess drinking
•    Becoming active (taking the stairs, walking while talking on the phone, etc…)
•    Exercising regularly

Such resolutions are as important as healthy eating to keep fit and healthy!

Here are 5 “So7i Wa Sari3” tips on what to eat on a regular basis this year and every year:

1.    Try as much as possible to choose whole grain foods, and when you can, choose foods that are high in bran which is the outer layer of the wheat grain (such as brown bread, brown pasta, brown rice), they are loaded with fibers. Bran would make you feel full and you wouldn’t eat as much! You hate it??? Try to introduce it gradually and by the end of the year, if half of your choices are whole grains, then you did great!

2.    Eat meat the Lebanese way. Include it in small quantities in your stews and occasionally on weekends. Try to avoid daily steaks and dishes that are based on meat. People who eat more red meat have a higher risk of colon cancer, stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer.

3.    Eat fish at least twice a week. Fish has less saturated fat than red meat. Its omega-3 fatty acid appears to lower the risk of heart disease. Of course, canned tuna and sardines are considered fish, and yes, frozen fish is a healthy choice!

4.    Add more beans, seeds and nuts to your dishes; try the Lebanese stews and soups based on lentils or beans; add roasted seeds or raw nuts to your salads … These choices are rich in fibers, sources of many many nutrients such as potassium, iron, folate and protein… They are delicious and healthy; remember, moderation is always the key!

5.    Follow healthy, quick and easy cooking methods found in “So7i Wa Sari3” cookbook.

Have a healthy new year!