Now that it's officially 2009, people everywhere have been celebrating fresh starts and new opportunities. Many may have also spent the past few weeks focusing on making and keeping resolutions for the new year.

New Year’s resolutions are not a new thing. In fact, people have been making them for nearly 4,000 years! From the Babylonians to the Romans to the early Christians, the celebration of the new year brought about a time to make resolutions, seek forgiveness from enemies and give gifts. People today are still making New Year’s resolutions, and many focus on changing their lives in drastic ways. Some of the most common resolutions include cutting back on bad habits, saving money and getting organized.

One of the most popular goals can also be one of the most challenging – eating better and losing weight. While there are many ways to tackle this goal, one of the easiest and most effective ways can be by adding more fiber to the diet, an important nutrient found in Artichokes (PDF).

According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, women who increased daily fiber intake from 12 to 24 grams absorbed 90 fewer calories per day when compared to women who did not consume as much fiber. Artichokes, which contain 10 grams of fiber, can help provide half of the daily fiber requirement. Adding more fiber from veggies, like Artichokes, can also help lower carb intake and prevent overeating, two important factors that can help you easily stick to a weight-loss resolution.

If you’re looking to eat healthier this year or are planning on accomplishing another goal, the following tips from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can help you pick the perfect New Year’s resolution and stick to it:

1. Think realistically. One of the main reasons people do not stick to New Year’s resolutions is because they choose changes that are too difficult to stick with for the long term. Make sure to think through your goals and pick one that will be challenging, but not impossible.
2. Don’t let setbacks stop you. Instead, prepare yourself for them. Make sure you have a plan in place if you happen to make a mistake. Most importantly, don’t let minor slipups make you give up on your overall goal. Remember, everyone makes mistakes.
3. Take baby steps, while celebrating each accomplishment. For example, if you’re trying to exercise more, don’t measure your success at the end of the year, but keep track of your weekly and monthly progress. This will help keep things in perspective, while helping you set both small and large goals.

Sources: womanshealth.gov, womanshealthmag.com, new-years-celebrations.com, infoplease.com