Guiding Stars: The Fresh Start Effect of Fall
Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News
Whether you have children starting a new school year or not, September brings “reset” vibes. We finally take on that stack of papers that was pushed aside to relish summer days. And we return to a regular pattern of grocery shopping and cooking as summer travel wanes. With wellness in mind, let’s embrace a fresh start this fall.
Menu Reset
The unofficial end of summer brings a menu shift. Maybe it’s due to the end of summer hours at work, the start of a school year, or less travel. Whatever the reason, it’s time to review the calendar and menu plan to match your new schedule. Return to regular grocery shopping. Choose new “ingredient prep” days—slice and dice fresh produce, and grill or roast proteins and vegetables. Keep whole grains and other starches in the pantry, and you’ll have everything you need to round out meals. Use these versatile ingredients to bring easy meals together as you adjust to a new schedule. And make meals easier with slow-cooked dishes and make-ahead meals.
Exercise Reset
It’s time to settle back into a pattern of regular fitness. This may mean a different approach than what has worked over the summer, especially for families adjusting to a new fall schedule. Remember that the priority is consistency and doing something most days of the week. If timing is tight, embrace fitness apps that make workouts more effective. You can use them at home, in the gym, or even on the sidelines of your child’s sports practice.
Nutrition Reset
This may be the perfect time to focus on your diet, especially if you enjoyed more take-out and seasonal treats this summer. Focus on meeting your nutrition goals as you shop and menu plan. For most of us, this means consuming less sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat. Rely on Guiding Stars to help. Guiding Stars evaluates food labels for you so you can quickly fill your cart with nutritious, star-earning foods that align with your goals. By doing so, you’ll be able to engage in a fresh start this fall with less effort and more ease.
Wellness Reset
Have other aspects of your wellness been neglected over the summer? Maybe it’s your sleep hygiene, regular stretching, hydration, or commitment to safely reducing stress. “Dry January” works for September too. If your summer pace was fun, but not centered around wellness, this is the moment to return to better balance.
Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.
*Image by Freepik
