March is national nutrition month! The theme this year is “Bite into a healthy lifestyle,” which encourages everyone to adopt eating and physical activity plans. The plans are focused on making informed food choices and getting daily exercise in order to reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote overall health. No matter what your age, healthy eating fuels physical activity at every stage of life.
Here are some tips to help you bite into a healthy lifestyle this month:
A little bit of planning goes a long way. Having healthy options in your kitchen means you’re more likely to eat them. Cook a batch of brown rice or another whole grain early in the week and have it available to add to salads, soups, or stir frys.
Put the healthy foods in your fridge in an easy-to-reach spot. Easy to reach means easy to eat! When you go to the fridge for a snack, plan ahead and put the most nutritious items out front.
Put two new healthy snacks on your grocery list. Try a fruit you’re not familiar with, or a vegetable you don’t eat often. Be adventurous and try something new… you may like it!
Rethink your drink. Pause before reaching for a sugar sweetened beverage, and grab a glass of thirst quenching water instead. Water should ALWAYS be the first choice for hydration. Add a lemon slice or a sprig of mint for extra flavor.
Put your fork down between bites at one meal today. When we eat slowly, we give our stomachs more time to realize that they are full, a feeling that can come several minutes after that last bite. So why not savor the meal and slow things down a little bit?
Treat yourself to a small bit of a food that you love today. Last but not least, let’s remember that people don’t eat nutrients, we eat foods, and we should enjoy them. So let’s be honest about the foods we love, choose a reasonable serving size, and enjoy!
Nutrition is not the only way to stay healthy. A healthy lifestyle includes a healthy diet, but also means daily activity and treating yourself kindly.