How to eat healthy in the New Year

Ok it’s the New Year and you’re kicking the pizza-three-times-a-week habit for a healthier lifestyle.

We check in with health food blogger, Cassie Johnston, who recently put out the gorgeous cookbook, “Chia, Quinoa, Kale, Oh My!” to find out which superfoods should make it in our diet in 2015.

“The idea of “superfoods” can feel really intimidating for someone just getting started with healthy eating — but they definitely don’t have to be,” assures Johnston. “Sure, there are more adventurous foods out there that provide lots of health — like chia seeds, quinoa, and goji berries — but you can just as easily get a lot of nutritional benefits from some tried-and-true superfoods.”

Below are the three superfoods she says to start with now:

Spinach (both fresh and frozen)
“It’s packed with a ton of nutrients that will help you feel strong and healthy,” says Johnston. “It’s mild-flavored, making spinach a great option for adding to smoothies, casseroles, or frittatas.”

Oats
“These are a great option for breakfast food,” says the expert. “They are packed with whole grain fiber that helps keep you full.” Johnston says make sure to look for old-fashioned (or rolled) oats or the steel cut variety for the most fiber bang for your buck. “And when you doctor up your bowl, skip using lots of sugar-loaded add-ins, and instead try using naturally-sweet berries, some chopped nuts and a small drizzle of honey, another superfood!,” she says.

Fruit
“If you’re looking for easy snack ideas, you can’t beat the original grab-and-go snack food—fruit! Almost all fruits are superfoods, and provide you with a great dose of nutrients and help starve off your sweet tooth,” she says.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Pistachio & Orange Yogurt Parfait

Makes: 1 serving

Time: 5 minutes

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup chopped pistachios

2 tablespoons chopped dark chocolate

1 tablespoon honey

Zest of 1 orange

Instructions:

In a small cup, top 1/2 cup of the yogurt with half

of the pistachios, chocolate, honey, and orange

zest. Top with the remaining Greek yogurt,