March 13, 2013

March is National Nutrition Month


March is National Nutrition Month® - Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day

March is National Nutrition Month and the topic for 2013 is Eat right, your way, every day”. This is a great topic to embrace the idea that we all have different eating styles and food preferences. This year’s National Nutrition month theme encourages you to make healthy food choices that include your favorite foods, eating style, and cultural background. Below are some tips to reach your nutrition goals.

v  Every morning, eat a breakfast that contains protein and fiber. Starting your day off right with a healthy breakfast will help provide your body with energy and will help you to make healthy food choices for the rest of the day.

v  Try to limit your intake of fried foods. Instead try to bake, broil, grill, and lightly sauté your favorite dishes.

v  Try a new fruit or vegetable each week and incorporate new healthy foods into your favorite recipes.

v  Use healthy recipe substitutions for some of your favorite family recipes. For example:
o   Use low-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt instead of regular sour cream in a recipe.
o   Use half the oil recommended in a recipe.
o   Use canola oil rather than vegetable oil in your recipes.
o   Use 1% milk instead of cream when making dishes that call for cream.

v  Try to find time in your schedule for exercise. Go for a walk, bike ride, or just walk around your office at work. Find an active activity that you enjoy, and make it part of your daily routine.

v  Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Try to limit your intake of soda and sugary drinks which just provide excess calories and sugar. Add lemon or lime to your water for a great taste, drink caffeine free tea, and/or drink seltzer water for a refreshing drink.

v  Do not skip meals. This leads to overeating at a later time in the day.

v  Use herbs and spices when cooking. They add a lot of taste and nutrients to your favorite foods.

v  Try to cook more, and eat out less. This allows for more control over what you are eating.

v  Remember, it is ok to have a treat now and then, just remember not to make it a daily habit and remember that portion control is always important.

No comments:

Post a Comment