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A few weeks ago, I had coffee with a friend who used to share an office with me where we both worked as dietitians. I asked if she'd been busy.

"Not really," she said. "No one wants to talk about nutrition or weight loss during the holidays. But it will definitely pick up after Jan. 1!"

So true. The new year is when we get to start over. And for many of us, that often means some type of health goal.

One thing I've learned from personal and professional experience is this: Without a specific plan of action, most resolutions are nothing more than a hope that falls by the wayside at the first sign of stress or Dunkin' Donuts.

So, how do we "do" these grand plans for the coming year? Check out the internet and you'll see lots of advice on how to set SMART goals. I happen to believe this is a great place to start any new venture, especially when it comes to our diet or health.

Let's say your goal is to lose weight and get in better physical shape this year. That's...pretty...general.

Using the SMART acronym to set a goal may enhance your ability to actually reach it. Here's what it means:

Specific. What specifically will I do to reach this goal? "I will walk around the park for 30 minutes at least 3 days a week and eat at least 2 cups of different kinds of vegetables a day."

Measurable. How will I measure my progress? "I will track my walking times and vegetable servings on my phone or calendar."

Achievable. Can I really do this? What will I have to give up to meet this goal? (This is where reality hits.)

Realistic. Is this a reasonable goal? Is it possible for me to achieve? If not, re-write your goal.

Time limited. I will follow this routine for one month and then re-evaluate my goal based on my success.

I made a couple of New Year's goals: "Starting today, I will eat 2 fresh fruits stored in my fridge every day before they start to shrivel and will keep track on my wall calendar."

"I will join my husband for a walk down our mile road at least 2 days a week..unless there is a blizzard or the cows get out."

Seriously though, it's a great time of year to evaluate our values and take note of what is most important in this life. And in the words of two anonymous authors, "May your New Year's resolutions last longer than your holiday leftovers." And "May your resolution to hit the gym result in at least one pushup."

Lastly, in the words of singer-songwriter Brad Paisley, "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one."