National Nutrition Month

Articles

Mar 1

During the month of March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics invites everyone to learn about nutrition for National Nutrition Month. There is so much to learn about our body chemistry and nutrition, and every person is unique. This month, we can all engage in finding more information to help us make the best choices we can for our health. One way to improve your health and improve your diet is to ensure you eat a variety of foods. Planning meals ahead of time can also be a helpful way to keep on track. Cooking at home helps many individuals know exactly what is on their plate. Read more details about all the ways you can be aware of your nutrition this month and every month in the future.

Nutrition Basic Facts

Science continues to progress and helps us understand our bodies better along with how our diet affects our health. There are a few basic nutrition facts to remember when deciding how to structure your diet. Getting the vitamins your body needs is a primary concern for overall nutrition, so it is important to eat many different types of foods, including plenty of variations of vegetables. Fruit is better consumed whole rather than in fruit juice because they often also contain high amounts of added sugar and lack fiber. Many fats are actually good to incorporate into your diet in the form of foods like avocado, nuts, seeds, fish, and olive oil. Hydration is extremely important in conjunction with our diet as it regulates our bodies and helps our organs perform more optimally.

Eating the Rainbow

Although some individuals are recommended to incorporate a multivitamin into their daily routine, generally, it is best to receive needed nutrients through the food you eat. A good rule of thumb to use when planning meals is to use many different colors of food. As you build your plate, adding different color foods helps you easily ensure you receive different types of vitamins and nutrients in each meal.

Meal Planning

Having a plan set for your meals for the week helps you from turning toward convenient and less nutritious foods or ordering takeout. Meal planning can also save you money in the long run! Start with planning simple dinners that you feel comfortable preparing. Keeping healthy snacks on hand when you are on the go will also prevent fast food stops and keep you on track.

Experiment in the Kitchen

With so many different dishes and styles to choose from, it can be fun to experiment in the kitchen. New cuisines can be a great learning experience to expose your tastebuds to different cultural food traditions. Use the tools available to help guide your process if you feel intimidated in the kitchen. Supercook is one popular tool that allows you to search for recipes based on ingredients you already have on hand. This is helpful if you aren’t sure what ingredients work together or if you need some culinary inspiration.

Reading Nutrition Labels

Although they are found on every package of food in the stores, not everyone takes the time to read their nutrition labels. Nutrition labels have important information to consider and can help you identify foods that are a healthy and nutrition-rich choice. Checking the first section of the label for the serving size can help some individuals understand the suggested portion size and can decide how much they would like to consume. In addition, the label can alert you of any added sugars so you can keep from accidentally ingesting too much. The percentage indicated in the Daily Value column helps show you at a glance, which foods are nutrient-rich or on the other hand, which foods are unhealthy and lacking nutrients.

Check out our nutrition facts label worksheet to learn more about how to read the labels on your food and make the best choices:

https://tiltonstherapy.com/resources/nutrition-label-worksheet

Looking for more ways to learn during National Nutrition Month? Visit https://nutrition.gov to learn about how to choose seasonal foods to bring even more awareness to your diet. You can also find free resources like their FoodKeeper app to ensure you are storing your food in the best way to keep it fresh longer as well as learning when foods become unsafe to eat. Another helpful resource details health and nutrition across the lifespan and what to be mindful of for everyone, from infancy to advanced age. Find many other helpful resources you can use to make the best nutrition choices for your body.