It’s a new year and it’s time to do our best again to pamper our bodies by eating healthy foods. For those of you whose resolutions include ‘losing weight’ or ‘living more healthily’, let me help you out a little! These five tips are easy to integrate into your lifestyle. It’s a matter of making a few little adjustments to your weekly eating pattern.

1) Green smoothie for breakfast
Try to a green smoothie for breakfast once a week. Buy yourself some fresh leafy greens (like kale and spinach) and several kinds of fruit and make sure you have a good blender at hand. It only takes a couple of minutes to whip up a healthy and delicious breakfast. If you don’t have time to drink it at home, buy a cute to-go container, so you can take your smoothie with you. Drinking a green smoothie once a week will make you feel more fit and will give you more energy. It’s possible it also can help you lose weight, give your skin a glow and, on top of it all, these green goodies can decrease the incidence of all kinds of allergic reactions.

My favourite green smoothie:
1 banana
1 apple
1 cup of fresh orange juice
1 big handful of spinach
a splash of coconut water
1 slice of pineapple

2) Flax seeds
Add a tablespoon of ground flax seeds to your smoothie, juice or oatmeal once a week. Why? Because it is a natural way to improve bowel function and it helps you lose weight. Also, flax seeds contain protein and essential fatty acids.

3) Gluten challenge
We already know that too much gluten is bad for your body. It’s hard to maintain a completely gluten-free diet, but try to do it once a week in 2014. Skip crackers, bread, granola and beer. Do it for your skin, your immune system and intestines. You can find delicious, gluten-free recipes on my website: www.renskroes.com.

4) Algae (spirulina, chlorella and kelp)
Algae are relatively high in protein and help to detoxify the body and the liver in particular. Including algae in your diet can also help you to stave off physical and mental exhaustion. My parents used to give me four to five algae capsules a day when I was small. If you take four chlorella capsules or add a spoonful of the powder to your smoothie every morning, you’ll wake up your body and that energy will continue to flow throughout the day. Algae also contain huge concentrations of vitamins, minerals, protein and essential fatty acids. You can buy algae, like chlorella, at health food stores or online.

5) Hot Energy Drink
This is a very stimulating drink! It will make you feel happy, powerful and filled with energy! Cayenne pepper is amazing for your intestines, just as lime and mint are for your skin and immune system. Cinnamon will spice up your tea, regulate your blood sugar and is a very powerful antioxidant. Last but not least, the honey is amazing for fighting infections and will make your drink a little sweeter.

Ingredients
– a pinch of cinnamon
– a pinch of cayenne pepper
– 1 tablespoon of honey
– a handful of fresh mint or 1 mint tea bag
– the juice of half a lime

Will you use these tips and take on the challenge? Cheers to a happy and healthy new year!