10 ways to eat healthier this year

Sunset Magazine

Kick start your "eat healthier" resolution with 10 easy-to-follow strategies


1. Eat mussels
You'd think their briny sweetness would be all the reason we need to celebrate mussels, as well as other seafood that's low on the food chain, like oysters and clams. Well, there's more. Mussels are off the charts for vitamin B12, and high in iron, protein, even vitamin C.

> Suggested recipe: Saffron Steamed Mussels


2. Make it sustainable-meat Sundays


Grass-fed meat may take a bigger bite out of your wallet than the usual grain-fed supermarket choice, but the extra dollars pay off nutritionally with meat that is lower in fat, and--thanks to the animals' pasture-based diet--higher in omega-3s and a group of fatty acids that can actually lower your cholesterol. Farmers' markets and some supermarkets sell grass-fed beef and sometimes bison, lamb, and even goat.

> Suggested recipe: Mini Lamb Meatballs with Cilantro-Mint Chutney


3. Try meatless Mondays


You may have heard the slogan, which started as a way to help the war effort during WWI. Now it's a grassroots movement (meatlessmonday.com) with an A-list of followers, from Michael Pollan to Mario Batali. Why take the pledge? Going meatless just one day a week can decrease your risk for cancer and other major health issues.

> Suggested recipe: Winter Greens and Mushroom Pasta


4. Go with the grain


You're into quinoa. Now venture a little deeper into the grocery shelves (or go to bobsredmill.com) for a handful of other super-healthy whole grains. The best reason to check out these new choices? Their nutty goodness.

> Suggested recipe: Farro Dolmas Salad


5. Get the right eggs


Pasture-raised eggs wow us with their rich flavor, deep yellow yolks, and perky whites. And they just may be better for us than standard supermarket eggs--fresher; higher, according to some studies, in omega-3s and vitamins A and E ; and lower in cholesterol and fat. "Pasture-raised" isn't an official definition, but generally means that the chicken got most of its nutrition from foraging, with grain to supplement . Look for the eggs at farmers' markets.
> Suggested recipe: Eggs Benedict light

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