New Years Resolutions

The new year is approaching (4 more days left!?!) and as I prepare a class for cardiac rehab about weight loss I'm reminded about how many people try to start fresh in the new year.  This month has been a whirl wind for me.  I returned from Nepal the week before Christmas.  Fortunately my cookies were made and my presents were bought but between the jetlag and the return to work the only person I managed to cook for was a dear friend who lost her mom just 3 days before Christmas. I made her a chicken pot pie.  A good one with cream and butter that tasted like love and comfort.  And while I made it I laughed at how I couldn't help but "tweak" the recipe just a little.  Double the vegetables.  Add more nonfat milk, less cream.  White breast chicken meat only. Low sodium bouillon, no salt added despite the recipe calling for it.  It wasn't perfect.  Certainly not the healthiest thing I've made, but they loved it and that's what was important.  I feel all too often we try to make grand changes because we feel we have to change everything RIGHT NOW.  Why not ease into the new year by trying to make things just a little bit better?  Can you reduce the salt in that recipe just a little?  Change from 2% milk to 1%?  Change from white rice to brown rice?  Include just one more fruit or vegetable per day?  Little things add up.  They're accomplishable, sustainable and ultimately isn't that the goal?