An Exciting New Year In The Kitchen
Every year, we try to make New Year's resolutions that we're going to follow. With 2024 rapidly coming to an end, we have some great suggestions for you. While most people typically add dieting or trying new activities to their list, we have some unique food-related resolutions you should consider. Because most people overlook eating habits or practices, here are 20 reminders of things you should focus on in 2025.
1. Start Composting
Instead of tossing all your food waste into the trash, do your part and help the environment. By composting your uneaten scraps, you're not only helping the fight against climate change, you're simultaneously improving plant growth by creating healthy soil. It's such a simple way to do your part!
2. Waste Less Food
Speaking of waste, make it your goal in 2025 to leave nothing behind. Food-wise anyway. Learn how to portion your food so you don't have to throw anything away, buying only as much fresh ingredients as you need, and ordering dishes that aren't too much for you. There's nothing more sad than seeing trash cans filled with large amounts of food that won't be benefitting anyone.
3. Learn How To Cook With Scraps
Even seemingly useless scraps of food can be used for something! Whether it's potato peels, fruit cores, or meat bones, there's a way you can make the most out of it.
From making delicious bone broths to crispy snacks, stop to think about the possibilities before tossing them away next time.
4. Try A New Cuisine
We know you love your burgers, pastas, and steaks, but next year, consider stepping out of your comfort zone a little. While American foods are comforting and delicious, there are so many other cuisines in the world to try. Not only will they unlock new worlds of flavor for you, your favorite food might just be out there waiting.
Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash
5. Practice Mindful Eating
Instead of gulping down your meals without thinking, it's a good idea to consider practicing mindful eating in the coming year. By paying attention to every bite, you'll fight back unhealthy eating habits while also improving your overall satisfaction. Every bite you take should be meaningful for you!
6. Order Less Take Out
We know it's hard to resist the convenience of ordering in, but for your wallet and health's sake, we'd recommend giving it a try in 2025. To help you save some money on food costs and to practice healthy eating, making this switch will lead to an overall positive impact. Just give it some time.
7. Improve Your Cooking Skills
That being said, by reducing how much you order takeout, you're going to need to practice your cooking skills. If you're a good cook, this won't be a problem, but if you're entering your kitchen for the first time, it's time to put in the work.
While you may struggle at first, you'll find learning how to cook incredibly rewarding, and maybe even enjoyable too.
8. Buy A Cookbook
If you're struggling to know how to get started in the kitchen, we recommend buying a cookbook. Finding one that fits your preferences, style, and needs can be a game changer. Knowing you have reliable recipes you can follow on any given day will definitely make things easier for you.
9. Eat Less Sugar
We know you sweet tooths aren't going to like this one, but in 2025, consider cutting back on sugar. Start saying no to those sodas, candies, and chocolates that are only negatively impacting your health. While enjoying a sweet treat occasionally is fine, consuming too much on a regular basis won't do you any good in the long run. Make 2025 a new you!
10. Learn Healthy Snack Recipes
And to help you fight those cravings, it's time to make it your goal to learn new healthy snack recipes that satisfy your needs. Who says healthy has to be gross? You'll be surprised by the wide array of delicious recipes that won't damage your body. All you need to do is put a little time aside to do your research — what better time than the new year?
11. Drink More Water
You've likely been told to drink lots of water all your life but never took it too seriously.
Take some time in the new year to learn about the benefits of staying hydrated. It's a lot more important for your body than you may have realized! This way, you can start setting realistic goals to meet every day to ensure you're staying healthy.
12. Improve Your Dining Etiquette
When you're faced with four spoons to your right and four forks to your left, how do you know which one to use? As a fun little goal, spend some time learning proper dining etiquette next year. That way, when you're eating at a fine dining restaurant, you won't have to worry about embarrassing yourself.
13. Practice Your Plating Skills
While you might think it's a little pretentious at first, it never hurts trying to impress your guests with beautiful plating. After all, we do eat with our eyes first! You'll be surprised seeing how simple plating techniques can really change the look of your dishes.
14. Try Hosting A Dinner Party
Open up your home to close friends and family by inviting them to fun and cozy dinner parties. While it might seem a bit daunting cooking for an entire group of people, it can feel very rewarding and fun hosting such events. Your cooking skills will also automatically improve with more experience!
15. Learn To Appreciate Vegetarianism/Veganism
Unfortunately, vegetarians and vegans often get a bad rep in the limelight.
That's likely because the general public doesn't understand anything about it! Instead of just seeing them as non-meat eaters, try to learn more about their beliefs and philosophies. Better yet, trying cooking a week of just vegetarian or vegan-friendly dishes. We're sure you'll gain a new appreciation for them and you might even learn some new delicious recipes!
16. Get Better At Meal Prepping
For you busy-bodies who never have time to cook, get into the practice of meal prepping. Making enough portions for the week so you can quickly reheat your meals will be a lifesaver. Never doubt the power of enjoying homecooked meals on a busy weekday.
17. Improve Your Grocery Shopping Skills
Whether you're looking to budget or not, there are a number of ways you can improve your grocery shopping skills. Take some time in the new year to hash out things you need to focus on. From creating lists so you don't buy unnecessary goods to looking at nutritional facts, there are many ways to make grocery shopping an easy task so it doesn't feel like a bland errand.
18. Learn A New Cooking Skill
Once you're more comfortable in the kitchen, look to expand your horizons even further! Challenge yourself and learn a new cooking skill you've never mastered before. From making fresh pasta to getting familiar with the air fryer, there are many unique things to learn that might excite you.
19. Eat Breakfast More Consistently
We know getting up in the morning is a struggle for most people, but it's sad hearing that breakfast gets pushed out of the routine so often. In 2025, make it a goal to eat breakfast more consistently. It's true what they say — it's such an important meal you shouldn't be ignoring! Once you notice the positive effects, like feeling more awake and less hungry throughout the day, you won't be able to go back.
20. Give Baking A Try
We know the idea of baking might not seem like the most appealing activity to do, but hey, if you're all about trying new things, why not give it a go? The new year is always the best time to put your best foot forward and give new hobbies a proper try. You might just be a secret baking whiz in the making!
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