I have mixed feelings as the end of the Christmas break and the year come to an end.
I will miss wearing slippers for a good portion of the day and I will miss hangin' with the family.
I like the idea of the new year and the sense of a fresh start that it suggests. I've never been a big resolution type guy but I am all for trying to do things a little differently.
I am sort of glad in knowing that I will not be eating a rum-ball, Nanaimo bar or piece of shortbread for another year, I think.
After consuming several billion calories over the past two weeks, I am looking forward to eating a little lighter and I see visions of green salads and fruit smoothies in my future.
I was listening to the CEO of Fraser Health the other day who noted that the percentage of people over 65 will balloon to 22 per cent by 2030 from its current 13 per cent.
Baby boomers and gen Xer's are going to put a massive strain on our health care system over the next twenty years and its time that folks in those demographics made some choices to help themselves and healthcare in general.
We should try to extend the timeline of the things we do in the early part of the new year to ease our guilt over Christmas over-consumption.
We can at least try to help ourselves and the system by watching how we live a little closer.
Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in the western world and costs the tax paying public millions and millions of dollars. This strain on the system can be held in check if we pay a little more attention to what we eat and how we shop.
We have all heard that when we are shopping in a grocery store we should stay on the perimeter. This is where the fresh dairy, meat and fruit and vegetables are. Avoid the evil middle aisles where sugar and saturated fats lay hidden in heavily marketed cereals and packaged dinner solutions.
Try to eat local when in season and if you can, maybe consider growing some of your own food.
Urban farming is surging in popularity for many reasons. Food costs, concerns about food security and land use are helping backyard and inner city gardeners enjoy the benefits of locally grown foods.
Roadside fruit and veggie stand gate receipts and the increasing popularity farmers markets only go to show that people are making an effort to help themselves. This is a good thing if we are going to at least attempt to make a preemptive strike against rising healthcare costs.
We are very fortunate to live in a society where government provides the vast majority of our healthcare needs. Unfortunately, future generations may not get all of the benefits that most of us currently take for granted.
This new year I am going to plan to free up a little more space in the yard to grow some more stuff and maybe I will be able to trade with my neighbours?
Have a happy and healthy new year everyone!
