If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you know it began with just three simple rules focused on eating more healthfully. After attending the International Food Bloggers Conference I embraced the label “healthy foodie,” which captures my approach: enjoy good food while keeping health in mind.
Following October Unprocessed was intense, and I began slipping from my own rules. I didn’t binge, but I made more exceptions than I intended. December — with a life-changing trip to France and holiday celebrations — was the low point for my healthy habits.
To get back on track I proposed the January Rules plan: return to the three original rules, follow them strictly, and allow one weekly cheat meal. Inviting others to participate helped keep me accountable—if I led the challenge, I needed to follow it too.
That structure worked well for me. Clear, absolute rules are easier for me to follow than vague goals like “eat less” or “eat more.” I also find avoiding high-fructose corn syrup instinctive; the thought of it makes me queasy. Fried foods are a weakness, but limiting them to once a week is manageable with planning. The toughest challenge was avoiding refined grains—simple at home, but harder when eating out.
Fortunately, whole-grain options are becoming more common, and I expect restaurant choices will continue to improve. At restaurants I now ask for “100% whole grain bread” even though it’s often unavailable; if enough of us request it, menus will change. The food industry is already responding: I recently saw an ad highlighting whole-grain content in cereals. It may seem ironic given the sugar content of many products, but it signals a shift.
Below are reflections from participants who joined January Rules and shared their experiences. A big thank-you to everyone who took part and contributed their stories.
Rene Lynch
I started the challenge confident: choosing whole grains, avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, and skipping fried foods seemed straightforward, especially at home where we already limit processed foods. I tried whole-wheat recipes—biscuits and whole-wheat oatmeal chocolate chip cookies—and my husband didn’t notice the difference.
But once I left the house things got complicated. I discovered I have trouble saying no and felt anxious about asking friends and family to accommodate my rules. At brunch, when a friend offered my favorite baked French toast, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. At a relative’s house, I accepted croissants rather than offend my hosts. I also broke the rules for work when testing recipes that used white flour. Before long, I’d used up my mental allowance for cheat bites.
Those rule-breaking bites seldom felt worth it. I realized I was eating on other people’s terms instead of my own. The “cheat day” structure made unexpected situations stressful; I focused on the transgression rather than the company I was with. Midway through the month I shifted to Andrew’s advice: do the best I can. The most valuable lesson was recognizing how haphazard my eating can be. I often skip meals and then make poor choices when ravenous.
My February goals are modest and practical: eat breakfast daily, pack lunch and healthy snacks, and make eating out intentional and worthwhile. These steps should improve my diet substantially. I’m also open to tips for declining food offers gracefully and handling dinner invitations without seeming demanding.
Andrew’s note: For me, absolute rules are easier to communicate: saying “I don’t eat meat” is clearer than “I’m trying to eat less meat right now.” When a rule is unwavering, people usually understand and are supportive.
Nimisha Ambati
This challenge made me realize how much refined flour I was eating. Giving it up, especially when dining out, was difficult because refined flour appears in so many dishes. I explored whole-grain substitutes and added lentils and beans to my meals.
The first two weeks were easy, but the third week was the hardest since I encountered many tempting offers like pasta, crab cakes, and desserts and ended up taking a few “cheat bites.” That slip-back reinforced the negative effects of refined flour: when I avoided it I had more energy, clearer skin, less fatigue, better workouts, and some weight loss. After cheating, fatigue returned and workouts suffered. The experience convinced me to keep January Rules as part of my routine; I may still allow occasional cheat meals, but I now see how much my overall well-being depends on food choices.
Ame Schneider
I used January Rules as a guideline and followed the rules loosely while staying mindful of what I consumed. The practice of conscious eating extended beyond food and left me feeling great. I plan to continue this focus on mindful living and appreciate the opportunity to share feedback and be part of the challenge.
Michelle Stern
I didn’t do as well as I hoped. The rules were clear and the allowance for a cheat meal helped, but old habits easily crept back. It’s harder when family members prefer conventional versions of foods, and when irresistible treats—like farmer’s market bread—are around. I learned that if I want to succeed I must avoid keeping tempting items in the house and be a better shopper. Cooking with unprocessed ingredients becomes much easier when the pantry is stocked appropriately. I’m revising my shopping list now.
Rachel Wilson
As a chef I don’t always eat perfectly. After a long day at work I often don’t feel like cooking, though my family helped throughout the month. We had successes: a whole-wheat Rhodes Sabbath bread everyone enjoyed, a brand of whole-wheat bread we agreed on, and whole-wheat chocolate chip cookies that were a hit—proof that healthier swaps can work for the whole family.
Jayne Rivera-Lynch
January Rules worked well for me. I followed the rules almost perfectly, with a few accidental lapses from habit. Mindful eating is my takeaway; I need to stop eating without thinking. The whole-grain rule is the hardest but manageable with planning, and the weekly cheat meal was a welcome break. My favorite rules-compliant meal was vegetarian pho—simple and satisfying. I feel mentally clear and pleased to have started the year on a healthier note. I’ll join Health Month to maintain momentum and add a few more challenges to stay accountable.
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A little housekeeping:
There’s still time to enter the giveaway for Uncle Sam or Erewhon cereals—leave a comment on the original post before the deadline. The February Health Month game has started and you can still join Team Eating Rules; free slots are filled, but players with three or fewer rules play for free, and others can join for $5 for the month.
Photo credit: philipyk.