‘All about balance’: Residents can keep up health goals in various ways

By Ashley Luthans

Making health a priority is a common New Year’s resolution, whether it be through exercise or better eating habits, but sticking to it can be easier said than done.

Austin Evans, the owner of Lean Kitchen Company, a local meal plan service, highlighted various ways to improve physical health.

“No. 1 focus needs to be your nutrition, making sure it’s in line with where it needs to be,” Evans said. “And then moving your body, exercise, is obviously gonna help you burn more calories. And you need to make sure you’re getting adequate sleep because sleep is a part of the equation a lot of people don’t take into account.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a healthy amount of sleep for adults is at least seven hours per night.

If exercise isn’t a practical option due to a busy schedule, eating healthier is still an important factor in maintaining health.

Evans said the two most important things to focus on are calorie consumption and increasing protein.

Local meal plan services like Lean Kitchen Company are available to help people in the St. Joseph area plan their meals and eat more nutritious foods. Meal prepping at home is a good way to ensure nutritional value. Talking to a dietitian is also another way to monitor eating habits.

“It can be tough to stick to a diet, but really, it comes down to just not overcomplicating it,” Evans said. “I mean truly, the equation to get success is really simple. You have to burn more calories than you’re taking in. And you don’t want that to be extreme, but you want to aim for a number of calories, aim for a number of grams of protein per day … and it’s all about balance.”