In Latin, "tabula rasa" means clean slate, and I think we can all agree that's what we're looking for in 2017. There's tons of way you could take this - whether it be with relationships, school, or at work. To me, it means something different. Instead, I think fueling my body with a clean plate will result in a better year.

There comes a level of vulnerability to be able to admit that you're not giving yourself the nutrients in which you deserve. I'm such a "foodie" so when it comes to eating out or trying new foods, I don't even consider what I'm putting into my body. It's comparable to an addiction.

"Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry"

I won't lie, I have used food as motivation and a reward. It's so simple for me to say, "Well, if I do this then I can have a donut later" or something along those lines. I wouldn't ever admit to myself that it's close to being addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, but it is. An unhealthy diet leads to about 700,000 deaths per year, more than 6 times the amount of people that died in 2010 from alcohol and substance abuse!

The beginning of this year I vowed to myself to make better choices when it comes to what I'm eating. I started meal prepping and really looking into the ingredients in each of my purchases. I became a BeachBody coach and was given tons of tools to help me. One of the biggest thing I've taken from this experience thus far is that it's not about what you're eating, but more about how much you're eating.

Overeating has been a huge problem of mine growing up. When you join BB, they send you portioning containers, which have become my best friend. It also comes with a guide for how many containers of each food group you should be eating. It differs for every person!

Taking the time to research and plan is super important if you want to make better choices. I recommend eating about 3 meals per day, and filling in the gaps between them with nutrient-dense snacks. One of my favorite things when I'm hungry or craving something sweet is Mint Chocolate Shakeology! It's packed with protein to fill you up, "green super foods" to fight off diseases and boost immunity, and digestive enzymes to break down foods and increase your absorption of nutrients. Snacks are also a great time to get that serving of fruits of veggies that you're missing!

Balancing your meals, fueling your body with nutrient-dense foods, and prepping for the week are super important for starting your body off with a clean slate for 2017. You only get one body, it's important to treat it the best you can, and a clean plate is a great way to start.