Eat healthy.

Which to me, may be totally different than the person right next to me.

I know it's the time of year when we are all striving to eat a bit better. But what is better, exactly? To one person, that may mean cutting out sweets or packaged foods. Another, it may mean eating less meat or only buying grass-fed. Or another, it means less alcohol and more water. There is no clear-cut answer.   

But, you know what? That's the beauty of eating better - it means eating whatever makes you feel your best. No comparing. No forcing down green juice because you think you should. But, eating real foods because you want to. Because you enjoy the flavor, appreciate the crunch or because you spent time preparing it.

We are all different, as are the healthy foods we choose to eat. For me, I can't tolerate soy - which throws tofu, soy milk, etc. out the window... and after spending most of my 20's dealing with IBS, the anti-inflammatory and grain-free foods I eat on a daily basis are what make me feel my best. And this may be different for some of you readers out there. One of you may feel your best with a bowl of oatmeal each morning. Or another, with poached eggs and greens. We learn how our own unique bodies feel after we eat certain foods and start repeating routines that leave us feeling good.

This year, I'm continuing to get to know my body a bit better. Cutting out foods that bring me down and eating foods that I truly enjoy and that make me healthier.  

First up - breakfast! On these frigid weekends, Chad and I have been sitting down to brunch in our own kitchen. We recreate meals we get at our favorite St. Louis spots, set the table and by golly, we have ourselves a brunch date. Roasted potatoes and local eggs with spinach are likely menu items. And the other day, I blended this drink to serve with it. 

 Pineapple-Banana Juice

(2 servings)

• 1 frozen banana, chopped

• 1 cup pineapple, chopped

• 2 cups coconut water

• few dashes of ground turmeric

• 1/2 teaspoon fres hly grated ginger root

Directions: 

1. In a blender, blend all of the ingredients until smooth and well blended.

2. Immediately pour into two glasses and serve with breakfast or lunch.

May each of you not set a short-term resolution - but rather set a routine, a daily habit, a lifestyle (which lasts longer than a year) ... to eat better. Whatever "better" means to you!