What’s On Your Plate?
Healthy eating and routine exercise are needed all year round; but many of us need a friendly reminder to get ourselves back on track. March is National Nutrition Month (NNM). NNM is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
As you grow older, your metabolism slows down, which means you need fewer calories, your body needs more of certain nutrients, and it becomes increasingly important to choose foods that provide the best nutritional value. Making healthy food choices in addition to being fit and active helps you feel your best, work productively, and lower your risk for a variety of conditions.
By making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits, you are making the choice to live a healthy lifestyle which will promote your overall health and reduce your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Follow these tips by ChooseMyPlate.gov to make a great plate:
- Balance your calories
- Enjoy your food but eat less
- Avoid over-sized portions
- Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or 1% milk and dairy products
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
- Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
- Make half your grains whole grains
- Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt
- Compare sodium in foods
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks
After you have decided to make informed decisions about your food, we then encourage you to join our Champions of Joy in Aging community and participate in our Walk to LIVE WELL!