Food and Thought Newsletter - December 2025

December 2, 2025

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Healthy Eating For The New Year: What Are Your Goals?

Many of us set resolutions for the new year, yet studies show that most resolutions last fewer than four months. In fact many people (25%) quit within the first week of setting their resolution. If this has happened to you, try adopting the SMART method for a better chance of success. This method states that goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. So, instead of saying, “I’m going to eat better this year” - which is vague and not measurable — try reframing it to something like this: “I’m going to eat two servings of vegetables every day for a week.” This goal meets all of the SMART requirements, giving you a better chance of success!


The Holidays In Moderation

We often hear the phrase, “everything in moderation”, but what does this actually mean? By definition, moderation is the avoidance of excess or extremes. For many of us, the holidays are a time of excess, especially when it comes to food intake. Follow these simple rules to avoid over-indulging this holiday season!

1. Slow down: Chew, savor, and fully swallow before taking another bite.

2. Start small: Cut portion size by 1/2. You can always go back for more IF you want to.

3. Limit foods with a lot of added sugar.


Why Diets Fail: A User’s Guide For Achieving Your Goals

Diets fail for many of us and for a whole host of reasons. Understanding this, and knowing what your own personal challenges are can be the first step to setting achievable dietary goals! Below are some of the common reasons diets may not work for us.

1. They are too restrictive: Many diets impose strict rules and eliminate entire food groups, leading to feelings of deprivation. This can trigger intense cravings and a desire for the very foods that are “off limits” making it hard to stick to the diet.

2. They focus too much on short-term gains: Most diets are designed for quick results rather than sustainable lifestyle change. This short-mindedness can lead to yo-yo dieting, where people regain weight after stopping the diet.

3. They ignore psychological factors at play: The mental aspect of dieting plays a significant role. The “all-or-nothing” mentality can lead to feelings of failure after a single slip-up, causing people to abandon their diets entirely.

4. They forget about biological responses to dieting: When calorie intake is restricted, the body reacts by slowing down metabolism and increasing hunger hormones. This biological response can make it increasingly difficult to maintain weight loss over time.

5. They are impersonal: Many diets do not take individual preferences, lifestyles or emotional well-being into account. This lack of personalization can make it challenging for people to adhere to a diet that may feel unnatural or overly rigid.


The Food and Thought Program works to promote awareness and provide short term counselling around the important link between nutrition and emotional health.

For more information or for a referral to the program, please contact the Food and Thought Program.


This work is supported by the Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospital Community Benefits Community Grant Program.


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