The month of March is National Nutrition Month. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is available to guide you in making informed choices on healthy food and fitness habits. “Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right” is this year’s theme. People tend to eat foods that taste good and that they enjoy, so the website offers great ideas on how to combine taste with nutrition to get the most benefit out of all your food choices.
A healthy diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables. These foods are usually lower in calories and higher in fiber content than other foods. Thus, eating fruits and vegetables instead of higher- fat content foods will keep you healthier and help to control your weight. Additionally, a diet higher in fiber and lower in calories can reduce the risk of some illness and chronic disease, such as stroke, heart disease, and certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Combined with a healthy diet, physical activity is paramount to achieving a healthier lifestyle overall. Regular physical activity should be at least 30 minutes most days of the week (aim for 150 minutes of activity a week). To prevent weight gain, physical activity should be slowly increased to approximately 60 minutes most days of the week.
For more information on healthy eating patterns and dietary advisements, please visit www.MyPyramid.gov . A healthier lifestyle in only a click away