Each week, Libby Lovig, a board-certified RD, offers a helpful, healthful nutrition tip.
National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month. During National Nutrition Month®, the American Dietetic Association reminds everyone that an easy way to focus on eating better is to start with the basics: build your nutritional health from the ground up. Start slowly, give yourself a good foundation and you can work towards a healthier lifestyle.
Ways to improve your nutrition from the ground up:
- Focus on the basics. Include fruits and vegetables, low fat and non fat dairy products, lean meats and whole grains. Take a good look at your current diet and you’ll probably realize you’re not eating enough of many of these items. Add a serving each day of the foods groups you don’t get enough of to one meal and increase it every few weeks.
- Look locally. From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area.
- Make calories count. There are no good and bad foods. Focus instead on the foods with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options. To figure out how many calories you need to achieve a healthy weight, visit www.mypyramid.gov.
- Test your taste buds. A healthy eating plan emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy and includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and nuts. These are the basics, but within this wide range there are always opportunities to try new things and find new favorites. Try an item you’ve never eaten before or find a new recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new healthy favorites to add to your regular grocery list.
- Trick yourself with treats. If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you want a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts.