Whether you’re taking care of young children or living in a college dorm, there’s never a good time to get a cold. The stuffy nose, headache and coughing are unpleasant and prevent you from getting anything accomplished. While I take vitamin C and Zinc  to prevent a cold,  I’d love to try some of Intent’s 9 ways to prevent a cold.

While most of the tips are common sense (washing your hands, avoiding sick people, taking vitamins), there are some tips I didn’t expect – like being happy!  And a bonus: they work great for avoiding other illnesses, too – like the flu!

Spring the whole list!

This year, instead of coming up with an unrealistic list of New Year’s resolutions, I’ve decided to try to incorporate a few simple changes into my everyday life. Each week, I’ll think of a new change and try to implement it. For example, this week, I’ve decided to take on what I like to call “the whole grain challenge.”

Instead of trying to eliminate not-so-healthy foods from my diet, I’m trying to add at least one serving of healthy whole grains. According to the Whole Grains Council, consuming at least 3 servings of whole grains daily can:

* reduce the risk of stroke by 30-36%
* reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes 21-30%
* reduce the risk of heart disease by 25-28%

(To view even more health benefits of whole grains, click here.)

One of my favorite whole grain snacks contains few calories and a reasonable amount of fat: Orville Redenbacher’s 100-calorie popcorn packs. They’re the perfect size for one and taste particularly good with a (small) handful of your favorite candy. Just don’t go overboard with the sweets!

Here are a few of my favorite combinations:

1. Popcorn + Dark Chocolate M&Ms
2. Popcorn + Candy Corn
3. Popcorn + Dark Chocolate Nonpareils (like Sno-Caps)

Spring the shopping list!

Will eating more whole grains simplify my life? Probably not, but I still think it’s a good idea!

I have posted about this before, and with the new year I have decided to get back on the water-drinking horse.  Most of us know that there are benefits to drinking more water, but we still can’t bring ourselves to drink those 8 glasses a day.  Success requires some planning.

Here are the plans I recommend:

1. Evaluate the beverages in your house and reduce the number by one, just one. The beverage options in our house include wine, beer, champagne, orange juice, apple cider, milk, iced tea, coffee and water.  Seems like a lot, huh? I am going to stop buying apply cider on a regular basis.

2. Keep water bottles wherever you go. I currently keep water in my purse/bag, on my desk at work, and on my night stand.  I am also going to make a point of always having a bottle with me in the car, so I can drink it on the go.

3. Buy some good reusable water bottles.  This is a good idea for your health, the planet & your wallet.  I like SIGG bottles. Spring It!

4. Keep track of how much water you drink each day. I made a “water drinking log” in springpad. Being accountable to myself really does seem to help. (See what my water drinking log looks like) Spring It!

Will these plans simplify my life? I’ll let you know.

If you’d like to improve your health & increase you energy level, try this idea:  Eat only fruit before noon.

Here’s some advice to make it doable:

1. Buy fruit every weekend – Now that it’s apple season, buy one of those bags of McIntosh apples.  When it’s avocado season, be sure to try eating one with a spoon!
2. Pack 2-3 days worth of fruit for work on Monday morning (6-8 pieces).  Whatever you don’t eat the first day can sit on your desk until the next day (or it will make a great afternoon snack).
3. Try to take a few pieces of fruit to work every day, but if you forget, there’s already a backlog waiting.
4. Keep fruit in plain sight – a big bowl of it on the kitchen table, an apple in the car, a banana or an orange in your computer bag or purse, a small pile on your desk.  It you get the urge to snack, whether it be from hunger or boredom or habit, you’ll be more likely to reach for the fruit!

Has eating only fruit before noon simplified my life? Yes!

Resources
Nutrition for Slacker More Fruit, Please!
simply stated. Six Reasons to Love the Mango
Live Journal Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Nutrition eZine The Top 10 Ways To Improve Your Diet, Your Health & Your Life!

We all know the health benefits of drinking more water. But if it were so easy, we wouldn’t be talking about it.  Here are some ideas to make it easier:

1.  Set a daily goal & keep track of your progress.  I recommend starting with 1 Liter & working your way up to 3 Liters.
2.  Buy a good reusable bottle (preferably non-leaching).
3.  Fill up your bottle every morning & carry it with you everywhere.
4.  Don’t be afraid to ask restaurants to fill your bottle when you are on the go – Starbucks, McDonald’s, even in airports.
5.  Until it becomes habit, set an hourly alarm on your email or phone:  “DRINK MORE WATER”

Will drinking more water simplify your life? Absolutely.
Just think of all of those calories & dollars you’ll save by skipping soda.

Resources
Nutrition Guide on About.com Hydration Calculator
BoingBoing Eight Reusable Water Bottles Compared
WikiHow How to Drink More Water Every Day
That’s Fit Bottle Water Myths Exposed
Wisebread Bottled Water, Bottled Hype
Dumb Little Man 9 Great Reasons to Drink Water, and How to Form the Water Habit