Start Your March to Better Nutrition

Start Your March to Better Nutrition

What’s your favorite meal?

Steak and potatoes? Hamburger and fries? Lasagna? Fried chicken? Dessert?

Your answers are likely all over the menu, but too few of us would lead with – or even include – the vegetables and fruits so essential to a healthy diet.

As our too-overweight nation celebrates National Nutrition Month in March, nutrition awareness campaigns attempt to tip the scales toward better health. Our bad food choices, it turns out, are the leading cause of obesity and the many maladies that can come with it ‒ such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Nutrition Month reminds us that better nutrition, with a side of regular exercise, can make a significant impact on your health and life expectancy. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which created National Nutrition Month, offers several activities to put better nutrition on your plate. These and other tips can be found on The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website, EatRight.org.

• Commit to trying a new fruit or vegetable each week during National Nutrition Month.
• Give family members a role in meal planning and let them pick out different recipes to try.
• Plan to eat more meals together as a family during National Nutrition Month.
• If you watch TV, take breaks during commercials to be physically active.
• Practice mindful eating by limiting screen time at mealtimes ‒including phones, computers, TV, and other devices.
• Try more meatless meals ‒choices like beans, peas, and lentils are versatile plant-based protein sources that work in a variety of dishes.
• Let everyone help with food preparation ‒a skill for people of all ages. If you have kids, there are age-appropriate tasks they may enjoy learning.
• Bring out the flavors of food by trying new herbs, spices, or citrus fruit like lemon or lime.

One of the simplest ways to be healthy is to eat healthy. Smarter choices about what you put in your body will help you get a lot more out of your body.

If you need more personalized assistance, SageWest Medical Group’s primary care provider can help. To find one who can help you live a healthier lifestyle that includes better nutrition, click here.