March is National Nutrition Month Published March 6, 2009 By Trudy Glusenkamp 14th Medical Group Health and Wellness Center COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- National Nutrition Month® is an annual nutrition education and information campaign held in March. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. This year's theme is "eat right." Eating right and staying fit are important no matter what your age. Help yourself to feel your best by making healthy food choices and being physically active every day. Eating right doesn't have to be complicated. Start with these recommendations from the American Dietetic Association. · Make Your Calories Count. Think nutrient-rich rather than "good" or "bad" foods. The majority of your food choices should be packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients - and lower in calories. Making smart food choices can help you stay healthy and manage your weight. · Focus on Variety. Eat a variety of foods from all the food groups to get the nutrients your body needs. Fruits and vegetables can be fresh, frozen or canned. Include more dark green vegetables such as leafy greens and broccoli, or orange vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes. Vary your protein choices with more fish, beans and peas. And eat at least three ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice or pasta every day. · Know Your Fats. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Most of the fats you eat should be monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Check the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels for total fat and saturated fat. · Physical Activity for Fitness and Health. Balancing physical activity and a healthy diet is your best recipe for managing weight and promoting overall health and fitness. Set a goal to be physically active at least 30 minutes every day. You can break up your physical activity into 10 minute sessions throughout the day. If you are currently inactive, start with a few minutes of activity such as walking. Then gradually increase the minutes as you become stronger. For more information contact Trudy Glusenkamp, the Health and Wellness Center dietitian at 434-2235.
