Let’s face it: for the most part, New Year’s resolutions are not fun. Resolutions are about how you want to improve yourself, and that often leads to negative self-evaluation and stress. Being stressed out is not a good way to start the year. However, you can set new goals for yourself and have fun with them! Here are 10 New Year’s resolutions every foodie should try in 2020.
What is a foodie?
Foodies are people who live by the saying, “Live to eat, not eat to live.” For foodies, meals aren’t simply part of everyday life, but a special interest and hobby. It’s about living life to the fullest through the taste buds and making an occasion out of every bite. Whether you’re just getting into the foodie lifestyle or you’ve been sitting at the table for a long time, these New Year’s resolutions every foodie should try in 2020 are for you.
Be More Adventurous
No matter how experienced a food connoisseur you are, there is always room to try something new. One of the best pieces of advice—not just about food, but life in general—is to leave your comfort zone. Try types of cuisine you’ve never had before. Whether it’s trying vegan diet plans or even eating fried insects at the street food stalls of Beijing, push your limits.
Hit the Road
Speaking of international food, the best way to discover and enjoy new recipes is to travel. Drive to Louisiana. Take a plane to Japan or Peru! There are always ways to travel and learn about other cultures on any kind of budget.
Taste Local Cuisine
Every traveler will tell you that the best experiences are the local, hidden gems. Stray from tourist hubs and wander into the local neighborhoods to get an authentic taste of the culture. Not a world traveler? That’s fine, too! Even trekking to different boroughs and districts in your own backyard can give you amazing insight into other cultures and their culinary traditions.
Find Delicious Diet Recipes
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to go on a diet and lose weight. For many people, the thought of hopping on restrictive diet plans is a bummer. So if you’re looking for a way to lose weight but still enjoy yourself at the dinner table, research some diet recipes that you’ll actually enjoy! (Yes, they exist.) Eating healthy is all about balance. You don’t have to eat celery every day to get it done. Find a diet plan that works for you and your taste buds as well as your waistline.
Attend Food Festivals
Food festivals are a foodie’s dream. There are countless food festivals that take place across the United States every year, from vegan festivals to BBQ competitions. Going international? Track down local street fairs like the Sunday Market in Merida, Mexico and taste authentic Mexican street corn. Food festivals are a fun, wonderful way to sample all kinds of food.
Write About Your Food Experiences
Remember your food adventures forever and share them with others by writing in a diary, blog, or even creating a photo journal. Thousands of foodies across the globe become food bloggers, and some of them even end up turning a profit doing so! Realize that enjoying a great meal doesn’t have to be a solitary activity. Bonding over food is a rewarding social activity, even if your friends are hundreds of miles away!
Cook More
One way to refine your palate and become more knowledgeable about food is to start cooking on your own. Develop a more personal relationship with and deeper appreciation for the food you eat by trying your hand at a few recipes in your home kitchen. It’s OK if they turn out mediocre the first few times!
Take a Cooking Class
Sign up for a cooking class for a more structured lesson as opposed to just winging it in your kitchen. If there is a particular type of cuisine you’re passionate about, like Italian food or Chinese food, taking a class can help you dive deeper into your favorite flavors and cultures.
Travel into the Past
New Year’s resolutions are about the future. But while it is exciting to experiment with modern, fusion cuisine, it is also important to look back into the past at dishes that helped define a social group or country. The type of food people eat is part of their history and their identity, and there is so much we can learn about each other by experiencing traditional cuisine.
Expand Your Knowledge
Food is more than sustenance to survive. It is a significant aspect of culture and history worldwide. Exploring new flavors and taking an active part in food culture is as enriching as it is delicious. There are so many ways to expand your knowledge of the world around you and develop new skills all while licking your plate clean!