March is National Nutrition Month. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has promoted the theme "Get Your Plate in Shape".
This is a great time to focus on healthy eating and making lifestyle changes to improve your health. A great way to get started is to focus on the “Plate Method” for eating. The plate method was developed by the USDA and shows how to make healthy food choices at meals.
1. Draw an imaginary line down the middle of your 9 inch dinner plate
2. Put non-starchy vegetables and fruits on one half of the plate.
3. On the other side of the plate, draw another imaginary line to cut that side in half.
4. Fill one quarter of the plate with grains (1 slice of bread, ½ cup whole wheat pasta, ½ cup brown rice, or ½ potato).
5. Fill the other quarter of the plate with a lean meat or meat substitute (chicken, fish, meat, beans, tofu, or eggs).
6. Have an 8 ounce glass of low fat / nonfat milk, a non-fat yogurt, or a slice of cheese for dairy.
Some Additional Tips for Using the Plate Method
1. Go to the ChooseMyPlate.gov website for more information about limiting fats, oils and added sugars.
2. Be careful to not to overfill/pile high your plate (portion control is important).
3. Try to eat a variety of different foods throughout the week to satisfy your palate and to provide your body with a variety of nutrients.
4. Try a new fruit or vegetable to add to your plate each week. A variety of great produce are available in your local market.
No comments:
Post a Comment