How to be happy - a popular New Year’s resolution under scrutiny

Have you noticed that to "be happy and enjoy life more" is a common New Year's resolution? I found this one on every single resolutions list over the past few years.

Why do so many of us feel that they are not enjoying life enough? Could there be regret for not spending enough time with loved ones? Are we embarrassed about being overweight and the failed attempts to lose weight? Are we concerned about diabetes or high cholesterol levels?

We humans are masters in finding plausible excuses for harming ourselves, such as smoking, drinking, and eating ourselves into cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Of course the overcoming of these actions are famous New Year's resolutions too, with mixed outcomes and ever more excuses for their failures.

Now, if we fail to be kind to ourselves for the sake of our own health, how about for the sake of increasing our happiness range drastically?

Imagine the level of happiness you could gain within just one day:

• Instead of having morning cereals with cow's milk and coffee with cream, try the cereals with almond milk and use coconut creamer for your coffee. After some time this saves a dairy cow from many years of slavery in a brutal dairy farm - a heart-warming thought!
• Skip the turkey sandwich for lunch and reach for a wrap with roasted veggies and a lentil salad - this even scores 2 happiness points: both, the turkey and your blood cholesterol level will thank you!
• For dinner, try to replace spaghetti and meat balls with vegetarian chili and brown rice, or switch the chicken breast for a roast made of vegetable protein (i.e. gardein) - you get far more nutrition and much less calories. Of course the chicken and cow you have spared will smile along with you, as you notice that you actually lose weight on these newly found healthy eating habits. Now that's happy thoughts!

Fact is, changing your diet to include more nutritious plant-based foods will automatically raise your happiness level!

Within a short three weeks, your taste buds will adjust nicely to the new interesting foods, you will shed weight effortlessly while eating the same portions, and you will be very proud of yourself for avoiding animal cruelty, and for successfully reducing your carbon footprint.

Bang - that's a whole lot to be happy about, and to brag a little too: you look and feel better, you are healthier, you reduce suffering and help others, and you do your part to save the planet – all at once with just some simple diet changes!

And on top of that, you get to spend quality time with your loved ones by preparing these great new meals together, so all of you can share the added benefits!

Start now and score your first happiness points by trying out a few healthy, delicious, and cruelty-free meals made from unprocessed whole foods with Belsandia's healthy recipes.

If you are unsure why choosing veg options over animal products will make your body really happy, check out some healthy eating guidelines with astounding facts about preventing diseases with your food alone.