“Go Further With Food” is the theme for the 2018 National Nutrition Month. Each year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics holds a campaign to showcase how to eat right regardless of your lifestyle.
Before you decide this doesn’t apply to you and your family, think again. Our lives are busy and it’s easy to lose proper focus on what we eat each day. After school activities, work, scheduling conflicts, and multitasking, in general, can all present challenges to maintaining a healthy diet.
Lifestyle Challenges And Nutrition
Can you even remember what you had for breakfast this morning? Maybe you ran out the door to get to work and grabbed a bagel on the way. A balanced start to the day keeps your energy level and your brain functioning as they should.
That old saying “you are what you eat” is as true today as it was a hundred years ago. Food is the fuel for our bodies, and what we eat can help us be productive, stay alert, and keep our mind and body healthy. The opposite is also true.
Finding The Balance in Dallas TX
Fruits, vegetables, grains, lean meats, protein, nuts, healthy oils, and dairy make up a balanced diet. Striking that balance consistently is the challenge of our day. You accomplish this by making informed choices rather than unconscious eating.
No matter where you are, or what you are doing, there are always healthy choices available.
Here are some tips:
For Busy Moms
Whether you’re a stay at home mom or you head off to work each day, keeping you and your family eating healthy nutritious meals is a real challenge.
- Prepare ahead several balanced meals on the weekend that you can reheat during the week. You serve your family nutritious meals, and it saves you time as well.
- Make double portions of those meals your family really enjoys, then freeze half for another week. It’s a win-win for everyone.
- If you have a local farmer’s market, avail yourself of those fresh vegetables and fruits while supporting local farmers.
For Children
Proper eating habits and getting the right amount of physical activity is learned when we are young. Overeating and not eating the right foods can set youngsters up for a lifelong battle with their weight.
- Set limits for your children and regulate their meal schedule. Offer them healthy varieties of vegetables, fruits and lean protein.
- Limit fruit juices, sodas, and other sugary drinks, and encourage them to drink water whenever possible.
For Students
If you are addicted to your coffee shop, try some healthier ways to get your caffeine fix. If you usually get a mega cup, switch to something smaller. Stir in low fat or skim milk to save on the fat and calories. Share one of those “ginormous” muffins with a friend. Sprinkle in cinnamon or cocoa powder instead of the sweet syrups.
Athletes, students, couch potatoes, and all busy people can “go further with food” if they choose the right mix.
You can work, play, and grow further with food.
If you have questions about proper nutrition, talk to a registered dietician or the radiologists at SWDIC.
Sources:
https://www.choosemyplate.gov/national-nutrition-month
https://chewthefacts.com/tag/national-nutrition-month/