Healthy Swops To Make This New Year

Milkshakes For Smoothies Cutting out sugar is a big trend and it’s not hard to see why. Our favourite sweet stuff is leading to many health problems that can be avoided. Let’s say you love milkshakes (like we do!) – how about swapping them for smoothies instead? You’ll still get the sweetness if you use ripe fruit and you can make them extra-creamy by adding half an avo and/or a frozen banana and plenty of ice to beat the heat. Hot Chocolate For Cacao We here at Joburg.co.za HQ drink a lot of hot chocolate! A simple healthy switch is to cacao; it's a great source of antioxidants, magnesium and iron. Plus, it tastes great! So how do you use it? I make my favourite cacao hot chocolate (yes, even in summer) by adding one heaped teaspoon of cacao powder to my favourite mug, adding some raw honey, topping it with boiling water and then finishing off with a dash of milk. If you can’t do hot drinks in the heat, how about making cacao bliss balls? This guilt-free recipe here will satisfy your sweet tooth in no time! Alcohol For Alcohol-Free Okay, don’t freak out at that suggestion – we’re not saying you need to quit drinking altogether. All we’re getting at is that it won’t hurt to cut down on those sugary cocktails or glasses of wine every now and then. Instead of drinking every weekend, why not alternate with an alcohol-free weekend? Opt for chilled social gatherings or movies instead of heading straight for the club or bar. Or what about ordering a lime and soda water instead of a tequila sunrise? It tastes great, is low in calories and you won’t suffer from drink envy (too much!).  Laziness For Home Workouts Come New Year, everyone wants to be their best self. They want to be healthy, fit and strong and you can see this in the overflowing gyms all over the country. Like we said before, resorting to extremes can lead to failure, so instead of signing a gym contract, try gymming in the comfort of your home. There are plenty of apps, YouTube videos and magazine articles that’ll help you achieve your goals. Want to try Pilates? No problem. Yoga more up your alley? Go for it. High-intensity workouts for a sweatier session? You’ve got it! So now there’s no excuse for being a couch potato. Phone Time For A Book I’m the first to admit that I’m addicted to my iPhone. It’s my trusty companion and it does everything for me. It’s where my music, photos, social media apps, workout apps, alarm clock and reminders live. Without it, I don’t think I’d ever make it to work on time or remember to do anything. But I use it way more than I need to. Anyone else guilty of this? This year, I want to use my phone less and instead of getting into bed at night and mindlessly scrolling through the same social media feeds that I check throughout the day, I’m going to switch off my phone and read myself to sleep. It’s better than falling asleep while typing, right? Plus, studies have shown that using your phone just before bed can disturb your rest – the light stops your brain from releasing melatonin, a hormone that lets your body know it’s time for dreamland. So there you have it – some simple swaps you can make this year. Let us know how it goes!