MARCH - National Nutrition Month

March has come into full-swing with National Nutrition Month! When we hear or talk about nutrition, we can usually understand the main premise of the idea: Eating healthy − using food options that will promote a well-balanced lifestyle and prevent the likes of obesity, high cholesterol, and other preventable health issues. Let's take this discussion further with outlining some perfect examples of ingredients to adopt a nutritious lifestyle.

• Focus on trying to make half of every meal you eat FULL of vegetables. Carrots are a good source of beta-carotene, fiber, vitamin K, potassium and antioxidants. Tomatoes reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K. Spinach is an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable. It contains high amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium.

• Make a large portion of the grains you eat whole-grain. A diet rich in whole grains has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some forms of cancer.

• Eating a variety of lean protein foods such as chicken, seafood, eggs, and nuts are sure to help you maintain a balanced nutrition goal. Eating chicken breast suppresses and controls a body's homo-cysteine amino acid levels which, if too high, can lead to cardiovascular disease.

• Stay away from unhealthy foods (and drinks!) such as candy, juices with high amounts of sugar, pop, chips, and any other snack foods that we tend to indulge a little too much into.

While eating a healthy and nutritious diet can be extremely difficult and sometimes daunting, a good idea is to set up something like a meal schedule. Having the opportunity to switch up ingredients every day will not only make your meal plans exciting, but you might find a healthy recipe that you never knew existed!

Bottom line: Nothing is more important than your family’s health. Take the steps needed to remove the less-healthy treats from your home and supplement them with delicious ones that will promote a healthier lifestyle.

B. Thalhammer

Source (https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/eat-healthy/how-to-eat-healthy/index.html)