Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle this National Nutrition Month®

Every March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosts National Nutrition Month^®. This campaign is designed to promote awareness of healthy food choices and lifestyle habits. The theme for this year’s National Nutrition Month^® is Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle, which encourages everyone to commit to making better food choices to improve their health.

What you eat and other daily decisions all have an impact on your overall wellbeing. Research has shown that poor eating and lifestyle habits can increase your risk of developing chronic disease such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and certain forms of cancer. Luckily, making small modifications to your day-to-day routine can be enough to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle.

At BRG Health Solutions, I always remind you how important it is to stay away from dieting. If you are looking to make long-term changes to your health and improve your wellness, you must not rely on quick fixes and instead take a Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle.

Here are some of my top suggestions for improving your health every day:

1. Start each day with purpose. Get your morning going by hydrating with a glass of water and sitting down with a balanced breakfast to fuel up for the day. Remember to include whole grains, fruits and/or vegetables, and lean protein to get a strong start to each day
2. Watch your portion sizes. Making informed food choices doesn’t stop once you’ve decided what to eat. It also requires an awareness of how much you are eating. Use the USDA MyPlate as a guide but focus on being mindful with every bite you take.
3. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Focus on including fruits and veggies with each meal, making up at least half you plate with these nutrient-packed foods. Fruits and veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber to help you fuel your body. Fruits and vegetables offer a seemingly endless array of health benefits and even play various roles in disease prevention.
4. Mind your sodium. While the body does need sodium to manage blood pressure and help muscle and nerve function, too much sodium is known to increase blood pressure, which is a health risk. The American Heart Association recommends that sodium intake be limited to less than 1,500 milligrams per day. On average, Americans consume 3,400 milligrams per day, nearly 225% of what is recommended! You must be aware that most of this does not come from the salt shaker, but from processed and prepared foods such as bread, cheese, cured meats, canned soups, and pizza. Want to avoid hidden sodium in your food? Eat more fresh foods and prepare meals at home from fresh ingredients. This will allow you to control the ingredients used and how much salt is added
5. Get your body moving. While this isn’t a tip for healthier eating, it sure is essential to a healthy lifestyle. This will help you manage stress, blood pressure, and can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Try to move your body for at least 20 minutes each day, even if that means two ten minute walking breaks throughout your day. If you spend most of your day at a sedentary job, making small changes like taking the stairs and going for a walk after lunch will help break up the long periods in a chair.

Your turn to take action: Get involved in National Nutrition Month^® and commit to making everyday changes to create a healthier lifestyle! Let me know what you will do to “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” this month.

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