5 easy habits to work into your morning routine for all-day healthy eating success

Kimberly Synder, CN, is a celebrity nutritionist and New York Times best selling author, whose new book, Recipes For Your Perfectly Imperfect Life hits shelves (and Amazon) next month. One of the most sought-out experts for beauty nutrition, she’s a total pro when it comes to eating for radiant skin and optimal digestion. 

When I saw that part of Sophia Roe’s (Re)New Year game plan was mastering your morning, I wanted to reach through my computer and give her a giant hug. I could not agree more. I am in total agreement that if you start your morning off tuning into your body, you’re much more likely to make healthier decisions throughout the day.

Look, I know mornings are crazy. You may wake up to work emails, a screaming kid, and a to-do list a mile long. I get it. That’s even more reason why in the precious time before your day is surrendered to everyone else, it’s so vital to do a few things for yourself. When you start taking care of yourself, you start feeling calmer, your anxiety starts to go down, your digestion functions better, your adrenals aren’t as stressed, your hormones are better regulated, and as a result your skin looks better. All of these things start to happen. That’s why it’s so important to reconnect with our bodies. (And no, you don’t have to wake up at an ungodly hour to make it happen.)

Here are five simple habits I swear by that will help you tune in more to your body, connecting more not only to yourself but to Mother Nature. Do them in whatever order works best for you. Wellness is a term that’s thrown around a lot, but to me, it all comes down to feeling good, which is what each one of these morning routine ideas can help you do. (They certainly do for me!)

1. Do nothing but breathe for three glorious minutes.

Being mindful in the morning really begins the night before by setting your phone to airplane mode, if you’re able to. So often in the morning, the first thing people do is look at their email or Instagram. If you need to do a quick check-in and make sure there are no major fires to put out, do it, but then give yourself three minutes to meditate, or simply breathe deep, belly breaths. This helps you connect to yourself.

So much of the time, we’re over-analytical, overthinking what “being healthy” should look like. A lot of my clients tell me they don’t even know how to tell if they’re hungry or not, or what their body needs. Part of figuring this out is embodiment, which means we are in the body. And starting the day this way is a key to doing this.

2. Drink hot water with lemon.

Yes, there’s a reason why so many wellness influencers and celebrities with glowing skin start the day this way. This practice may help repair your liver tissue, which is your main detoxifying organ. If you’re able to, savor this moment as an extension of your meditation practice. Maybe you read or journal for a few minutes while you sip. Or, if you want to drink your hot lemon water as you move through the rest of your morning, that’s okay, too.

3. Hydrate with room temperature water.

Yup, more water. You just spent eight hours—hopefully!—asleep, so your body needs some hydration, yet another key to keeping your skin looking dewy and your digestion running properly. This is especially important in the winter months when there is so much artificial heating happening, which can dry the skin out.

4. Take the right probiotic.

We all know how important probiotics are, but a lot of people are actually taking the wrong type. You really want to make sure that what’s in your capsule is surviving the acid in your stomach, which is why I recommend a soil-based organism (SBO) probiotic (which mimic the bacteria found in soil and which I believe to be more effective than traditional probiotics). Everything is connected to the gut, including your immunity and mood—making it so, so important to keep your gut healthy.

5. Fill up on fiber.

My mornings always include a Glowing Green Smoothie, made with three cups of leafy green vegetables, celery, banana, pear, apple, and lemon juice. This smoothie has 9 to 11 grams of fiber, which is key for stabilizing blood sugar and preventing the body from craving sugary foods later. This, along with giving ourselves incredible amounts of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, all work together and lead to being more in tune with nature and making better decisions all day.

There’s a reason why this five step formula feels so good: When we put ourselves back in tune with nature and our bodies, it’s powerful. So this (Re)New Year, I challenge you to take back your morning. You deserve it!

More reasons why fiber is so vital: it helps lower inflammation and boosts your metabolism.