Just back from a grand tour of our family in the UK and boy, am I glad to be home! Don't get me wrong, it was fabulous to see everyone, but I learnt a number of things very quickly:

1. It's cold over there at Christmas. Really, really REALLY cold.

2. It is, in fact, possible to freeze your butt off.

3. "Layers" are no substitute for a Proper Winter Coat.

4. I should listen to my Mum about Proper Winter Coats.

5. Central heating is a mixed blessing. Yes, it will warm you up. It also creates a Sahara desert in your nose and mouth.

6. Sahara desert in nose = nose bleed.

7. Further, when having Christmas in the UK, it is obligatory to have a cold.

8. Adults with colds are one thing. Babies are another.

9. Babies with colds do not sleep.

10. Neither do their parents. For twelve days.

11. Sleep deprivation may involve leaving your baby's luggage in London, and only realising when you are half way to Bristol (that's HOURS away).

12. You will usually recognise three or four people on the plane. When your baby is misbehaving, you will know everyone.

13. Daytime flights back to Bermuda take seven hours.

14. With a baby, even a cute little munchkin, they take FOREVER.

15. Toys will keep your baby entertained for a nano-second. Showing your baby how to pull out Daddy's chest hair generates much more amusement.

16. Daddies do not like having their chest hair pulled out.

17. Mummies that encourage chest-hair games are put in the dog house.

I could go on but I'm sure you get the idea. Nevertheless we still saw the New Year in with good cheer (lots of it!) and have thrown ourselves whole-heartedly in to 2009. Part of embracing the New Year has involved the obligatory setting of resolutions, and we've been debating them in our house for a few days now. Although we flirted with the idea of cancelling cable TV, the lovely husband has somehow convinced me that renting a DVR will mean that we only watch the good shows, rather than resorting to repeats of Everybody Loves Raymond. I can't help feeling that somehow I have been duped into paying more money to watch more TV, but there you go. It is perhaps, my only ticket out of the dog house.

Personally, I have two main resolutions this year. The first is to improve my cardiovascular stamina and secondly to make sure I have a healthy breakfast – even if it is at my desk. Last year, in the early morning race to bundle Chloe into the car and beat the traffic, I routinely either went without or ate something cringe-worthy. And what self-respecting nutritionist doesn't have a good breakfast?

If you too know that your diet and lifestyle could use some improvement, then see my resolution tips below. Try incorporating some of them into your daily routine and lets make 2009 your healthiest year yet!

Healthy resolutions to start off the New Year

1. Improve your diet! Some shameless self-promotion here, but I'm launching my next Nutrifit course on January 22nd. This is a six-week optimum nutrition and fitness programme that provides you with the nutritional know-how to eat healthily forever – give or take a few treats! This course is tremendously successful because it helps individuals understand exactly how their bodies work and why they are making the changes they are. It costs $295 and includes an individual diet and lifestyle assessment, eight nutrition classes, six group training sessions, six weekly meal plans, 10 percent off at Rock On, H20 Café and Buzz shops – and more! Call me on 505-4725 or check www.nutrifit.bm for details.

2. Nutrifit is a condensed course and as such, is the perfect foundation for long-term healthy goal setting. So for extra support and motivation, also check out the Live Healthy Bermuda 100 Day Challenge at www.livehealthybermuda.org.

3. Exercise! Whatever your chosen route, the important thing is to get moving in some way. Everybody benefits from exercise, even people who are already slim – remember your weight is only one indicator for your health and just because someone is slim, it doesn't necessarily follow that they are "fit." Even a simple walk along the beach is a really good start – and it can help to rid you of some stress too! However, if you do enjoy Bermuda's beaches, then consider helping to save Warwick Long Bay from development. See details of the petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/bestWLB/petition.html

4. Have a good breakfast! A fried egg sandwich may be satisfying, but it's hardly nourishing. Swap artery clogging fried foods or sugary muffins and pastries for wholegrain toast or cereals. These are vastly cheaper too – especially if you manage to have them at home or at your desk. My top three breakfasts are: wholegrain toast with almond butter and fresh fruit, oatmeal with fresh berries and flaked almonds, and Kashi Go Lean or Nature's Path Optimum Slim cereals. If you are on the move, try grabbing a Kashi TLC bar, a piece of fruit and some water.

5. Ditch the caffeine. Many of us can't face starting the day without a strong cup of coffee. But the truth is that caffeine can interfere with your blood sugar levels and actually be the cause of fatigue later on in the day. Of course, you can rectify this with more caffeine, but ultimately caffeine robs nourishing nutrients from your body, is bad for your skin and can trigger headaches. Try cutting down or even ditching caffeine altogether using these alternatives: Red Bush Tea (also know as Rooibosch) is a naturally caffeine free, antioxidant-rich tea that tastes great. Peppermint tea is classic and great if you have a hangover, morning sickness or had a heavy meal the night before. Most grocery stores sell either Stash or Celestial Seasonings herbal and fruit teas, most of which are great. For a fabulous range of functional teas (i.e. teas that "do jobs" like soothe a sore throat or balance hormones) see the Traditional Medicinals or Yogi Teas at Down to Earth.

6. Become a treat snob! I'm a big fan of treats and certainly see a place for chocolate, ice cream and candy occasionally in most people's diets. HOWEVER, it's crucial to only have these sparingly and when you do, make a wise choice. If you have a treat, try and pick things that are still relatively close to their natural form and avoid artificial colours, sweeteners and flavours at all costs. This means that a small organic dark chocolate bar or a scoop of organic frozen yoghurt or ice cream are eminently preferable to a bag of skittles or tootsie rolls.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist. She can be contacted at 291-4725 or clinicalnutrition@gmail.com